As a pediatrician I have found that even though we currently know much more about pathogens, people are tending to forget the basics that our grandmothers would have known...
1- First your skin is the most important barrier to infection we have.
So first protect it. If it becomes comprimised (cut, or otherwise injured) STOP and take care of it immediately. Washing the wound out with running water. This should be done with vigor. Very detailed studies show that irrigation (good handwashing) is more important then other interventions (like soap, hydrogen peroxide/rubbing alcohol ect..). You can use those other things, but irrigation and lots of it is far more important. So I always use lots of running water and soap.
2-Next....once you are cut...KEEP YOUR hands out of the tank. Let the wound heal.
3-Infection is always a major concern. The initial pain from an injury usually last for a short period of time, minutes to an hour. Most infections start to cause symptoms 12-48hrs after the injury. (Some infections can start within 3-4hours) Redness and PAIN, are things I never want to see. Wounds that are healing normally tend to ITCH, not hurt. So increasing pain and throbbing are never a good sign.
Always get these things taken care of sooner then later, they always have the potential to get nasty. You don't want to wait till it is clearly a cellulitis.
MK
1- First your skin is the most important barrier to infection we have.
So first protect it. If it becomes comprimised (cut, or otherwise injured) STOP and take care of it immediately. Washing the wound out with running water. This should be done with vigor. Very detailed studies show that irrigation (good handwashing) is more important then other interventions (like soap, hydrogen peroxide/rubbing alcohol ect..). You can use those other things, but irrigation and lots of it is far more important. So I always use lots of running water and soap.
2-Next....once you are cut...KEEP YOUR hands out of the tank. Let the wound heal.
3-Infection is always a major concern. The initial pain from an injury usually last for a short period of time, minutes to an hour. Most infections start to cause symptoms 12-48hrs after the injury. (Some infections can start within 3-4hours) Redness and PAIN, are things I never want to see. Wounds that are healing normally tend to ITCH, not hurt. So increasing pain and throbbing are never a good sign.
Always get these things taken care of sooner then later, they always have the potential to get nasty. You don't want to wait till it is clearly a cellulitis.
MK
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