Medical professionals deal with a number of different wounds. They may be caused by accidents, occur as the result of a medical condition or illness, or develop for reasons that may be difficult to determine. In any event, there are phases to the wound care and healing process that you should understand. Doing so makes it easier to select the right type of wound care supplies and course of treatment to bring about a complete healing. Here are the steps and phases involved with the wound care and healing process.
The Traditional Four Stages or Phases of Wound Care
Many medical professionals identify four traditional phases or stages to wound care. Within the wider scope of those four, there is often a great deal of discussion about what sort of Toronto wound care products work with different cases and how wound care in Canada involves multiple steps.
The Hemostasis Phase begins the overall process. It involves creating an environment that makes it possible for the blood to clot at the wound site. As the blood clots, it stops leaking out of the open wound because the blood vessels begin to constrict. That allows the platelets to begin sticking together and cover the wound surface. Coagulation helps to reinforce this process and allow the body to begin repairing the damaged tissue underneath.
The Inflammatory phase focuses on any swelling that may take place at the site of the wound. This is a natural process that helps to control bleeding and minimizes the risk of infection. To some degree, it also helps promote the repair of the damaged tissue even as it helps to reduce the amount of bacteria that settled into the open wound.
The Proliferative phase has to do with the reconstitution or proliferation of new tissue that seals the wound. During this phase, the combination of collagen and extracellular matrix builds the new tissue. At the same time, new blood vessels develop within that tissue to ensure it receives the nutrients needed to grow strong and healthy.
The Maturation phase completes the process as the collagen undergoes a natural change that adds texture, elasticity, and strength to the new tissue. At this point, the open wound is beginning to close and any cells that were essential for healing but are no longer needed begin to die out. For example, a scab is needed for protection as the new tissue develops, but will die and eventually fall away since it no longer serves a function.
Throughout all four of these phases, there is the need to utilize the right discount wound care supplies to aid in the healing. Choosing and using the correct supplies is much simpler when you keep the following in mind.
Understanding the Nature of the Wound
Not all wound care products are designed to all types of wounds. That’s why it’s so important to understand the specifics of the wound. A careful examination will make it possible to determine what is needed to properly treat the wound and how to choose the ideal bandages, ointments, sutures, or whatever else is needed to protect the injury and promote healing.
For example, the treatment of bed sores would vary somewhat from an open wound sustained in an accident. The types of wound care supplies used at different stages of healing would also be different. It’s by assessing the depth and width of the wound along with the amount of trauma created by the wound itself that it’s possible to select the right supplies.
Removing Any Foreign Matter
After the initial wound assessment, it’s necessary to clean the wound properly. That may involve removing any natural materials that would prevent the wound from healing. More often, it means carefully removing any foreign material that’s collected in or near the wound site.
The nature of the material may vary. It could be fibers from bedding, gravel, sand, metal fragments, or anything else that does not constitute human tissue. Once the wound is thoroughly cleaned, it will be time to begin using Toronto wound care products to further disinfect the area and follow up with different discount wound care supplies to close the wound.
Using Supplies to Fill and Closing the Wound
Depending on the nature of the lesion, cut, or other type of wound, there may be the need to stuff or fill the open space for a period of time. When using any material as filler during the process of wound care in Canada, it must be sterile. The material should also be unlikely to leave behind much residue when it is finally removed. A good option is to only use wound care products that are sealed in sterile packaging. That packaging should only be opened in the seconds before the materials are introduced into the wound.
Once the wound is properly packed, it will be time to temporarily close the wound. The process should make use of wound care supplies that will make it easy to change the packing in the days ahead. This is important, since the packing will absorb blood and pus for a time, then be replaced. a more permanent solution to closing the wound will occur once packing is no longer needed.
Selecting Bandaging to Cover the Wound
Bandaging is also in integral resource when it comes to proper wound care in Canada. The bandaging must be large enough to completely cover the wound and the area around it. It must include padding that will absorb whatever the packing is not capable of stopping. Above all, bandaging is among the wound care products that help prevent foreign material from being reintroduced to the open wound.
Ideally, the bandaging should be water resistant. This will help protect the wound from excess moisture that could interfere with the healing process. Always check the features of any type of bandages included in the wound care supplies on hand and make sure they offer adequate protection.
Being Prepared to Deal With Possible Inflammation and Infection
Inflammation is a natural part of healing and should be expected in the hours after the incident take place. Even so, there comes a time when it’s necessary to limit the swelling. The right type of Toronto wound care products will include bandaging that protects the tissue while also making it possible to administer ice packs to ease the swelling.
In terms of preventing infection, the cleaning and using the right type of packing and bandaging will make a big difference. Pair those resources with the use of ointments that provide an additional layer of protection. You can find that many retailers who offer discount wound care supplies carry ointments designed for this purpose. Some of them will also help keep the hydration level of the skin around the wound at a healthy level. This helps to eliminate a possible complication that could prolong the need for wound care in Canada.
Checking the Wound and Changing the Dressing
Throughout the healing process, old wound dressing will need to be replaced. This usually occurs when it’s time to visually check the wound and determine how well it’s doing. Once the old dressing is removed, the caregiver looks for signs that any bruising or discoloration is fading, the swelling is subsiding, and the level of inflammation has decreased.
Depending on the nature of the wound and the progress toward healing, the choice of wound care products may change. Perhaps lighter dressing would be a better choice now. Maybe it’s time to discontinue wound care supplies like ointments in favour of other productions. A medical professional will know when shifting from one set of Toronto wound care products to something more suitable for the current stage of the wound is necessary.
Wound Drainage When Necessary
Throughout the process of wound care and healing, it may be necessary to utilize discount wound care supplies that help to drain the wound. This is not unusual when surgery has taken place, but it can also apply to wounds that are unusually deep and were heavily infected before the patient could receive medical attention.
Far from inhibiting the healing process, the right type of drainage can expedite the healing. Provided it is check regularly and kept clean, it will help remove materials that would otherwise increase the odds of infection and trigger quite a bit of additional pain.
As with all the resources used for wound care in Canada, the drain should be checked regularly to ensure it’s not clogged and that it’s causing as little discomfort as possible. Once the drain is no longer necessary, it can be set aside in favor of other types of wound care products.
Avoiding Activities That Could Open the Wound
During the early stages of wound care, there’s a good chance that the patient will be cooperative in terms of refraining from a lot of physical activity. That’s good, since the movement could prevent the wound from closing properly. The real challenge will come as the patient begins to feel a little better and the wound appears to be healing.
At some juncture, the patient will become restless and want to move about. Depending on the nature of the wound, a little activity that’s not strenuous and only lasts for a short period of time will be helpful. Along with providing the body with a little physical action, being up and around for even a small amount of time can do a great deal for the patient’s state of mind.
The thing to remember is that wound care supplies can only do so much to prevent the wound from opening again. Limiting physical activity until the gash, cut, or incision has reached a certain level of healing is essential. Activity that places too much stress on the wound or that continues for an extended amount of time could set back the recovery by days or even weeks.
Just as the choice of Toronto wound care products will change as the wound heals, the amount of physical activity that the patient can engage in with change. Pay close attention to the instructions provided by the attending physician and only allow a reasonable amount of activity. Coupled with using the right kind of discount wound care supplies for the current stage of healing, the right type of physical activity will help rather than hinder the process.
Declaring the Wound Healed
The day will come when the doctor determines that the combination of treatments and the right type of wound care products have resulted in healing. The wound site will sport fresh tissue that’s healthy, strong, and looks just like the surrounding tissue. At this juncture, most of the wound care supplies used before may no longer be needed. The doctor may recommend limiting exposure to the elements for a few more weeks. In that scenario, some type of light bandage that offers a little coverage will be the best bet.
After one last examination, the doctor may determine that even using bandaging as a protective measure will no longer be necessary. At that point, you can carefully place all unused Toronto wound care products in a first aid kit or a storage closet. Make sure that none of the sterile packaging has any type of rips or tears, and that the caps on all ointments are tight. This will ensure they are within reach and ready for use if another accident should take place.
The whole point of keeping discount wound care supplies on hand is to be prepared for any type of wound resulting from a medical emergency, accident, or an existing medical condition. Always listen closely to the type of supplies you use for any kind of wound care in Canada and know when it’s time to discontinue the use of one product and start using a different one. Doing so will ensure that the wound does heal in the shortest amount of time possible.