Wounds can happen anytime and anywhere. That’s why it is important to be prepared and equipped with the knowledge of how to provide wound care at home or when to seek professional help if necessary. Whether your child fell off their bike or you sliced your finger when chopping vegetables, would you know what to do to ensure a fast and safe healing process? Luckily, we are here to help! We have curated a step-by-step guide on how to perform basic wound first aid. It is important to keep in mind that all wounds are different, and some may require additional attention depending on the cause of the wound and its severity. Keep reading to become a wound care expert and provide your own wound care first aid at home!

Be Prepared- The best way to provide wound care at home and ensure everything goes smoothly is to be prepared! One way you can do this is to keep a basic first aid kit handy at all times such as at home, in the car, or in a bag/purse. You can buy one or make your own including scissors, gauze, bandages, medical tape, and a pain reliever like ibuprofen or Tylenol. It may not seem like much, but these items can help you treat wounds in an emergency. We will show you how in the following steps!

Control Bleeding- Minor wounds will mostly likely stop bleeding on their own, otherwise using a clean cloth or some gauze from your first aid kit to apply pressure will assist in stopping the bleeding. It is important to note that some medicines such as aspirin can cause you to bleed more than usual and may require applying pressure for longer to control the bleeding. Do not apply pressure if the wound is a burn.