Wound Care FactsThe skin is a barri

Wound Care Facts

The skin is a barrier to the outside world protecting the body from infection, radiation, and extremes of temperature.
There are many types of wounds that can damage the skin including abrasions, lacerations, rupture injuries, punctures, and penetrating wounds.
Many wounds are superficial requiring local first aid including cleansing and dressing.
Some wounds are deeper and need medical attention to prevent infection and loss of function, due to damage to underlying structures like bone, muscle, tendon, arteries and nerves.
The purpose of medical care for wounds is to prevent complications and preserve function. While important, cosmetic results are not the primary consideration for wound repair.
Animal and human bites should always be seen by a medical professional because of the high rate of infection.
It is important to know a person's tetanus immunization status (for example, has the person had a tetanus shot or booster vaccine in the last 5 years?) so that it can be updated with a tetanus booster if needed.