ST JOHN AMBULANCE: Prevent infection of wounds with these tips

Any open wound is at risk of becoming infected

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St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity, has teamed up with the Littlehampton Gazette to bring you some simple, but life saving, first aid tips – this week: bleeding.

Any break in the surface of the skin will not only allow blood and other fluids to be lost, but will allow germs to enter the body.

If the wound is minor, the aim of the first aider is to prevent infection.

To treat a minor bleed:

• Wash and dry your own hands.

• Cover any cuts on your own hands and put on disposable gloves.

• Clean the cut, if dirty, under running water and pat dry with a sterile dressing or clean, lint-free material.

• If possible, raise the affected area above the heart.

• Cover the cut temporarily while you clean the surrounding skin with soap and water and pat dry.

• Cover the cut completely with a sterile dressing or plaster.

Dealing with severe wounds may be daunting but it is essential to prevent further blood loss and minimise the shock that could result from the bleeding:

• Wash and dry your own hands.

• Cover any cuts on your own hands and put on disposable gloves.

• Remove or cut clothing as necessary to expose the wound.

• Apply direct pressure over the wound with a sterile dressing or clean, lint-free material.

• If there is an object in the wound, app