How to Change a Wound Dressing

Being a first-time caregiver can be overwhelming. You want to make sure you ration out the right amount of medication, feed your loved one the best type of foods for their condition, and change wound dressings efficiently. Unless you’ve been formally trained in healthcare, it can be confusing.

If you’re providing care for someone who needs a wound dressing changed regularly, it’s crucial to learn how to do so correctly to avoid infection.

What to Expect When Changing a Wound Dressing

When changing wound dressings, what to expect will vary greatly depending on the type of injury. For a minor cut, it may just be a matter of taking off the old dressing and replacing it with a clean one. However, for major wounds, you may have to remove dead tissue or drain the wound.

If you know you’ll be the one providing care for your loved one, ask the doctor for instructions on how to properly care for the specific wound in case you need to provide assistance beyond the basic change of a bandage.

How to Prepare for a Wound Dressing Change

Step 1. Know where supplies are located. Keeping them in the same place will prevent you from scrambling at the last minute, trying to figure out where they are. If you’re rotating caregiving with someone else, make sure they also know where to find the supplies.

Step 2. Make sure you have plenty of the supplies needed. Keep stock regularly, and when you’re running low, restock as soon as possible. You don’t want to be faced with the situation of having to change a wound dressing and not having all of the materials you need. Generally, you’ll need:

• Saline solution to clean the wound
• Sterile gloves
• Sterile gauze or wound dressings
• Wound tape or surgical adhesive tape
• Topical ointments or antibiotics
• Scissors

Step 3. Wash your hands. Do so thoroughly for a full minute. Use warm water and soap, and dry completely before handling the wound dressing materials. Make sure to scrub all portions of your hands completely: the palms, the back, each finger, and in between each finger.

Step 4. Put on sterile gloves. It doesn’t matter how clean you think your hands are after washing them, always wear sterile gloves when handling an open wound, cut, or burned skin.

How to Remove the Old Wound Dressings

Step 5. Use saline water on the tape of the existing wound dressing. Do you remember how painful it could be to remove a bandaid when you were a child? You don’t want your loved one to go through that agony, especially if their wound is substantial in size or they have a severe wound underneath the gauze. Use drops of either water or saline solution around the tape on their skin to loosen the tape.

Step 6. Inspect the wound. Once you remove the covering, check to see if there are any signs of infection, such as pus or a foul smell. If you notice any of them, note the issues and let the patient’s healthcare provider know.

How to Properly Clean the Wound

Step 7. Clean the wound. Wet a gauze with saline water and gently clean up any blood or other bodily fluids (a small amount of blood is ok. If it’s a substantial amount, the person needs medical attention). Once clean, let the wound fully air dry (placing new dressings while the wound is still wet fosters bacteria growth). Once dry, apply antibiotic ointment.

How to Change the Wound Dressing

Step 8. Place a new wound dressing. Apply antibiotic ointment to the wound, then apply a new non-stick pad to the wound and extra gauze if needed. Once covered, gently secure with wound tape.

When to Call a Doctor

Contact the patient’s physician if there’s anything unusual with the wound:

• Large amounts of blood
• Pus
• Foul smell
• Swelling
• Fever
• Chills
• Skin feels warm to the touch

Contact Sonas for Home Health Care Services

If you’re acting as a caregiver for a loved one, let us help you. At Sonas Home Health Care, we have an entire team of experienced caregivers who will ensure the wellbeing of your family member.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home health care services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today (888) 592-5855.

Jillian Miller BSN, RN

Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care

This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them.