First Aid 1

Minor acute wounds may be self-treated
chronic wounds should always be referred

1. educate pharmacist and health care providers to the principles of moist wound-healing method
2. proper of implementation through the use of selected first aid products

1. protection (barrier against physical injury from chemicals, sunlight, dehydration, and bacterial invasion)2. sensation (modulates sensation through a network of pressure/touch receptors)3. thermoregulation (ability to modify fluid/electrolyte balance)4. immunomodulation (fibroblast/macrophages)5. production of vitamin D

3 stages:1. inflammation (10-15 mins) - vasocontriction to stop bleeding followed by vasodilation, migration of leukocytes to promote healing and cleansing of wound2. proliferation (12-24 hrs) - integrity of skin reesablished, keratinocytes migrate from wound's edge (MOISTURE IS CRITICAL for effective migration), keratinocytes meet and skin resumes barrier function, angiogenesis and neovascularization, 4-5 days post injury collagen begins CONTRACTION3. remodeling (21 days) - collagen becomes organized along skin stress lines, area has 80% of strength of normal dermis just 3 months post injury

1. Type of wound2. anatomic site3. presence of infection4. medications/medical conditions

2 categories:tissue has been lost - fall onto gravel, abrasion - results in irregular edges that cannot be apposed - slows the healing
tissue has not been lost - cut by sharp object - edges can be placed directly together (apposed) - facilitates healing
puncture wounds may heal quickly on outside but need to consider under skin healing or possible infections

Highly vascular areas heal more quickly than less vascular--head/neck > abdomen/back--lower extremities slow to heal--lip, mucosa, and natural hair often scar

Highest risk of infection within 48-72 hours post injurysigns of infection - swelling, redness, heal, pain, fever, exudate, four odor(?)

Advanced agediabetesimmunosuppressants/corticocteroidsextreme obesitypronounced malnutritionpoor circulation

1. serious/deep tissue infections or deep puncture wounds/sever burns2. animal/human bites3. slow healing wound (no change after 5 days)4. chronic wounds5. wounds in patients with certain medications/medical conditions

1. promote healing by protecting the wound from infection & further trauma2. treatment should be a stepwise approach--cleaning--selecting antiseptic/antibiotic--creating closure with appropriate dressing3. minimize scarring to create moist wound environment

--remove excess exudates--maintain moist environment--be permeable to oxygen--thermally insulate the wound--protect the wound from infection--be free of particulate or toxic contaminants--be able to remove without disrupting delicate new tissue

1. decrease foreign bodies2. protect wound3. absorb small amount of fluidsex - gauze (cleaning), nonstick gauze, gauze treated with petrolatum, band aid (benzalkonium chloride or ionic silver for antibacterial, benzocaine for pain, calcium alginate to help blood clot), liquid band aid (best on face and where difficult to keep bandage in place), topper dressing sponge, alginate gel

1. absorb fluid2. protect wound3. hold primary dressing in place4. provide additional compression/cushion--placed on top of primary dressingex - surgipad, roll gauze, self-adhering gauze

Paper: pinked edges (decrease fraying), helps w/tearing, hypoallergeniccloth (silk): question if stronger than paper, hypoallergenicwaterproof: NOT hypoallergenic (latex), stronger than others