Treat a Puncture Wound

Did you know that puncture wounds account for 5 percent of the admission reasons for children going to emergency centers? Puncture wounds occur when a narrow, pointed object such as a nail, tack, stick, or other similar sharp object pierces the skin. These wounds tend to be narrow and can be quite deep if the object was driven into the skin with substantial force.

Puncture wounds require different care from other wounds. Read on to learn what you need to do.

Steps

 * 1) Treat immediately. Provided a puncture wound is attended to quickly, it will usually not become serious. If left unattended, however, infection introduced through the puncture site can become life-threatening for the patient.
 * 2) Reassure the patient. This is especially important for children and for people who don't cope very well with pain. Help them to remain calm while you treat the wound.
 * 3) Remove the object (small objects and not serious punctures only). Remove the object that created the wound if you have not done so already.
 * 4) *Make sure that there are no splinters or other pieces of the object remaining in the wound if you can. If you don't get everything out, infection is more likely.
 * 5) *If there are large or deeply embedded objects in the wound that you cannot remove easily, you will need to get the patient to a doctor to remove them.
 * 6) *Do not remove the object if there is major bleeding. The object may be helping to close off and clot severed vessels. Removing it will remove the clot and cause more extensive bleeding. Leave removal in this situation for medical professionals only.
 * 7) Permit the wound to bleed for a few minutes. Puncture wounds usually do not bleed profusely. If bleeding is not severe, allowing the wound to bleed for about 5 minutes will help to cleanse the wound.
 * 8) Stop the bleeding. Use direct pressure to the wound -- apply this using a clean cloth bunched up in your hand. The bleeding should stop within a few minutes.
 * 9) Clean the wound. Use mild soap and warm water to clean the wound. Alcohol or other common household antiseptics should be avoided, as these can delay healing and injure tissue.
 * 10) *Make sure that the cleaning has not revealed any other embedded objects. Dirt or other objects can remain embedded in the skin if not removed.
 * 11) Bandage the wound if it requires protection. Because puncture wounds do not tend to be very large in size and are not prone to bleeding, you may not need a bandage for it. However, puncture wounds to the feet or other places that get dirty may require a bandage to prevent the entry of more dirt, etc.
 * 12) *Allow the wound to dry thoroughly before covering it with a bandage.
 * 13) *Use a porous adhesive dressing. Change daily to ensure that the wound stays healthy and dry.
 * 14) Know when to see the doctor. The following symptoms suggest that you need medical help:
 * 15) *Swelling
 * 16) *Redness
 * 17) *Pus
 * 18) *A concern that debris remains in the wound
 * 19) *Tetanus vaccination is not up-to-date (see next step).
 * 20) Get a tetanus shot if needed. Use the following guidelines to determine if the patient needs a tetanus shot (and contact your doctor for advice):
 * 21) *If more than 10 years have passed since the patient last had a tetanus shot.
 * 22) *If the object causing the injury was dirty or rusty (or you are not sure whether or not it was dirty), and more than 5 years have passed since the patient last had a tetanus shot.
 * 23) *The patient is not sure when the last shot was.
 * 24) *The patient has never received a tetanus shot.

Tips

 * Puncture wounds are usually not very serious and do not require professional medical attention.
 * If the patient has never received a tetanus shot and the wound is at high risk, the patient may need immune globulin. Discuss this with the doctor.

Warnings

 * Be sure to watch for signs of infection around the wound site until it heals. Symptoms such as redness, swelling, throbbing, red streaks, pus or discharge may indicate an infection.

Things You'll Need

 * Soap
 * Bandage

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Create a Home First Aid Kit
 * How to Treat Shock
 * How to Stop Bleeding
 * How to Decide to Use a Tourniquet (Home Remedy)
 * How to Call an Ambulance
 * How to Attend to a Stab Wound