Question

Can you please give me a usual way of how to change a dressing? One that has no shift in appearance, no color change, no foul smell. Please, Thank you.

Answer 1

Ans) Steps to change dressing:

- Wash your hands with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Put on the gloves.
- Slowly lift the edges of the dressing or tape. ...
- Hold down the skin surrounding the bandaged area.
- Lift the edges of the dressing toward the center of the wound, then gently lift it from the wound.

- If the dressing sticks to the wound, soak it with saline solution to help loosen it.
- Carefully discard the old dressing into a plastic trash bag and tie it closed. Put that bag into a second plastic bag and throw it away.
- Remove the gloves and wash your hands again.
- Next you will need to clean the wound. After you remove the dressing, you may see a thick yellow gummy film over your wound. It means the dressing is keeping the wound moist, which helps it to heal. Gently wash it off when you change the dressing:
- Put on new gloves.
- Place a towel under the wound.
- Wet a gauze sponge or pad with saline or water.
- Start at the center of the wound. Dab in circles out to 1 inch past the edge of the wound. Do not go from the outer edges of the wound back toward the center. This could spread germs into the wound.
- Be sure to clean away any liquid draining from the wound.
- Throw out your cloth or gauze and get a new one as often as you need to.
- Rinse the wound again with a new gauze pad to remove any loose debris not removed by the first cleaning.
- Throw the cleaning materials into a plastic trash bag.
- Dry the skin surrounding the wound by patting it with a soft clean towel.
- Check the wound for redness, drainage, swelling or odor.
- New tissue at the bottom of the wound should be light red or pink and look lumpy or glossy. Do not disturb this tissue. It is very fragile and will bleed easily.
- Next, apply a new dressing:
Open the new dressing and remove it from the package. Touch only the corners of the dressing. Cut it to size if necessary.
- Apply a skin barrier to the skin around the wound.
- Carefully center the dressing over the wound.
Secure the dressing in place with tape.
- Remove the gloves and wash your hands.