3 Ways to Treat Puncture Wounds

1. Soap, Water and a Little Bit of Blood Can Prevent Infection

Any injury that pierces the skin carries a risk of infection. The best way to avoid infection is to clean the wound as quickly as possible after it happens. The best way to clean a puncture wound is to let it bleed. You can gently press on the skin around the injury to promote a little bleeding and clean out any debris. If the wound bleeds freely or spurts blood, attempt to stop the bleeding by applying pressure and elevating the area. Note that blood spurts from wounds with severed arteries. Seek medical attention immediately in this case. You can also clean puncture wounds with soap, water and a clean washcloth to prevent infection. If you see dirt in the wound but are unable to remove it, see your doctor. Once the wound is clean, keep it exposed to air in a clean environment with no risk of hitting or rubbing the area. Allowing the puncture wound to form a scab and protect itself from infection is easier when the wound can breathe. If bandaging is necessary, change the dressing when it's wet or dirty and use warm water to remove a bandage that sticks to a scab.

2. Don't Make the Injury Worse

When a large object remains stuck in the body due to a puncture wound, seek emergency medical care immediately. Stabilize the object, but leave it in place to control bleeding until a doctor can safely remove it and treat the puncture wound. You can gently wash around the area to reduce the risk of infection, but make no attempts to remove the item. If the torso or neck is the site of the puncture wound, ensure the victim can breathe and check the pulse. Puncture wounds in the torso can cause a collapsed lung, making breathing very difficult and extremely painful.

3. Tetanus Can Get on Your Nerves

Tetanus is a disease caused by a bacterial infection. The infection can enter the bloodstream when the body suffers a puncture wound. Tetanus affects the nervous system and causes spasms that usually start in the jaw and can spread throughout the entire body. Symptoms can take weeks or months to show, and, if left untreated, tetanus can cause death. Most people receive a tetanus shot as children and require tetanus boosters every five to ten years thereafter. If a puncture wound occurs when your tetanus immunizations aren't up-to-date, you can receive a booster at the time of the injury, or post-exposure.