When someone gets an injury, minor or major, it often needs dressing based on the severity of the injury. They may apply bandages from a first-aid kit for minor injuries, but they need professional care for major sickness or injuries. People also go to doctors for the regular dressing of the wounds with special medical sprays and lotions. And patients entrust doctors and nurses with their health and healing, so medical professionals must serve their best knowledge and efforts to their patients.
And to be prepared for the treatment of different injuries, medical professionals must have basic to rare wound care supplies adequately stocked and accessible.
Here are those wound care supplies that every medical professional should always have on hand to treat their patients' injuries.
1. Medical Tape
The medical tape helps to stabilize and secure the bandaging placed over a wound. Medical tapes are mostly self-adhesive and hypoallergenic. However, these tapes do come in a large variety of types classified according to their use on different kinds of injuries and wounds, including:
- Pre-wrap
- Cloth tape
- Stretch tape
- Surgical tape
- Athletic tape
- Adhesive foam
- Waterproof tape
Due to the variety of medical tapes available in recent times and their targeted applications, it is wise to keep some of each type of these tapes with your wound care supplies.
2. Gauze Sponges
Gauze sponges are versatile supplies for patient wound care. These sponges are useful for absorbing excess body fluid before the process of dressing a wound. This provides a sterile barrier against dirt and bacteria. There are different varieties of wound gauze that one can use depending on the type, size, and location of the wound. Below are the different types of gauze sponges that one can use.
- ABD pads for larger wounds
- Gauze rolls for basic wound care
- Standard gauze sponges to clean basic wounds
- Self-adhering foam for stabilizing the skin around a wound
- Non-adhering dressing for treating burns and surgical incisions
3. Alcohol Pads
Individually packaged alcohol pads are useful in cleaning and preparing the skin for an injection. Many wounds may also require the patient to undergo a surgical procedure that involves incision. Alcohol pads help in preparing the skin for an incision too. It prevents bacteria from entering the skin when it is pierced for injection or incision.
Alcohol pads can be useful for cleaning away dirt and bacteria from an open wound. These are among the basic wound care supplies that one should not miss.
4. Bandages and Dressings
Most wounds will require appropriately dressed bandaging for protecting the area and promoting germ-free healing. Keeping a stock of different kinds of bandages will help medical professionals to treat wounds immediately regardless of their type, size, or degree of seriousness. Below are the types of wound care bandages dressing one should keep on hand:
- Foam dressings
- Alginate dressings
- Hydrogel dressings
- Medicated bandages
- Hydrofiber dressings
- Dry gauze dressings
- Basic transparent adhesive bandages
5. Medical Drapes
When a patient is suffering from a wound that requires any surgical closure, medical drapes can help to safeguard the wound against infection. Drapes are disposable and impermeable. This makes them helpful for isolating the injured area and preventing bacteria from entering the wound during the surgery. To prepare sufficiently for serious wounds, doctors should include medical drapes in their wound dressing kits.
6. Non-Woven Sponges
Non-woven sponges are tightly pressed cotton or polyester and rayon fibers. In comparison to woven sponges, these sponges are thicker and more durable. And this makes them ideal for protecting wounds from getting other injuries.
7. Medical Gloves
Like facemasks, medical gloves help doctors to protect themselves and their patients. Because wearing medical gloves while treating an injured patient can prevent any transmission of bacteria to the patient's wound and any infections or viruses present in the blood or body fluids of the patient to transmit to the doctor. Professionals need to keep latex and latex-free gloves in stock for their safety and their patients.
Dressing it Up
With the above-mentioned medical essentials and proper medical knowledge, doctors and their teams can easily treat any injuries or wounds. Common supplies like cotton balls, medical rolls, gauge balls, medical sprays, etc., are also a vital part of any cleaning or healing process.
Additionally, make sure you keep a keen check on the expiry dates of every supplement regularly. Because using expired solutions will worsen the injury and can even cause a dangerous infection. Other equipment like nebulizer, plasters, blood pressure monitor, thermometers, etc. are necessary and professionals must keep it in their vicinity in the hospital or in an ambulance. Plasters often come in handy when a patient has a broken bone due to injury. Likewise blood pressure monitors come in use before giving any high dose to the patient or taking their heart rate counts.
