It is helpful to know apply dressings to a wounded leg when you, or someone else, gets injured or burned. Perhaps you know someone who has diabetes and you may have to assist him with his wounds. Here are some steps to follow when applying dressing to a wounded leg.
Instructions
1. Determine what kind of wound it is and what was the cause. Is it an open wound from diabetes? An abrasion from a fall? A burn? There is a different way to wrap burn wounds compared to the other wounds.
2. Apply saline solution or water. A burn is cleaned with water. A wound caused by diabetes is cleaned with saline solution. For an abrasion, either saline solution or water will work. You want to clean the wounded area thoroughly but do not scrub.
3. Apply a medicated cream prescribed by your doctor. This will be used for diabetic wounds. The doctor may prescribe a for a burned leg that has blisters but, without the doctor's permission, do not apply any cream to a burn.
4. Wrap the leg with gauze. Gauze is a lightweight material that will allow the skin to breathe as well as cover the wound. Be careful not to wrap it too tightly because this could cut off circulation. The gauze is mostly used for burn wounds and abrasions. There is no specific way to put the gauze on just make sure the wound is covered.
5. Wrap dressing over the wounded area when dealing with a diabetic wound. This dressing is a heavier material and provides added protection. You could use either an Ace bandage or the doctor will recommend a stiffer bandage depending on the circulation in the leg. Never wrap too tightly or too loosely. Start the wrapping from the bottom of the leg to the top depending on how big the wound is. If the wrap contains Velcro, make sure the Velcro doesn't come into contact with the skin because it could pull on hairs or parts of the wound.
6. Tape the dressing to be sure it stays put until you change it. Use tri-cut first aid tape. You only need enough of the tape to wrap around the leg where you ended the wrap.
Tags: saline solution, burn wounds, cleaned with, make sure, medicated cream, saline solution water