Water is an ideal solution to clean wounds because it removes dirt, debris and loose, damaged skin without injuring or irritating healthy skin. Both tap water and sterile saline water are suitable for wound cleansing. In "Water for Wound Cleansing" published in the "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews," the authors concluded "there is no evidence that using tap water to cleanse acute wounds in adults increases infection and some evidence that it reduces it." R.M. Paone came to a similar conclusion in a review of multiple scientific studies on using water to cleanse wounds, published in the "Internet Journal of Academic Physician Assistants." Paone concluded, "there is some evidence to support the use of tap water over sterile saline." As long as the tap water is from a reliable source, not a third world country, it is safe to use, which is handy to know when you do not have saline water on hand.
Step 1
Put on a pair of sterile gloves if you are washing another person's wound. If you do not have gloves available, avoid touching the wound.
Step 2
Flush the wound with water to wash away dirt, debris, bacteria and loose skin. Use cool tap water or a bottle of sterile saline water to flush the wound. To use tap water, open the cold-water faucet and let the water run for 30 seconds to flush out bacteria that is on the faucet. Then place the wound under the faucet, letting the water run on the wound until the wound is clean. To use the saline water, pour the saline water from the bottle onto the wound, until the wound is clean.
Step 3
Air-dry the wound or pat it dry using a sterile piece of gauze.
Step 4
Cover the wound with a sterile bandage if the wound is in an area prone to exposure to dirt, such as a hand wound or if the wound is in an area that will get irritated by clothing, such as a leg wound.
Step 5
Seek care from a medical professional if you cannot remove all dirt and debris from the wound, if the wound is deep, extremely painful, is a severe burn wound, if the wound does not stop bleeding, if the wound resulted from a bite or if a rusty object caused the wound.
Step 6
Check the wound daily for signs of infection. If signs of an infection develop, see a health care professional. Signs of wound infections include a fever, swelling, redness, red streaks near the wound, a collection of fluid under the skin, green discharge and a foul odor coming from the wound.
Tips and Warnings
- Sterile saline water is sold over-the-counter at pharmacies. Use bottled drinking water to clean a wound if tap or saline water is not available.
References
- Water for Wound Cleansing: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1: Fernandez R, Griffiths R, Ussia C.: 2008
- Does Tap Water Decrease Wound Infection Rates as Compared to Sterile Saline?: The Internet Journal of Academic Physician Assistants, Volume 6, Number 2: R.M. Paone: 2009
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