Procedure
Dressing removal
❖ Perform hand hygiene.
❖ Put on a pair of non-sterile gloves.
❖ Carefully remove the tape.
❖ Remove the old
... [Show More] dressing. If it is sticking to your skin, wet it with warm
water to loosen it.
❖ Remove the gauze pads or packing tape from inside the wound.
❖ Measure the wound in diameter and depth, also note any tunneling and
sinus tracts. Document these findings.
❖ Put the old dressing, packing material, and your gloves in a plastic bag.
Wound irrigation
❖ Put on a new pair of clean gloves.
❖ Use a clean, sterile gauze to gently clean the wound with warm water
and soap. From the top of the wound to the bottom of the wound and
outward from the incision in lines parallel. Wipe from the clean area to
less clean area.
❖ Gently irrigate wound from top to bottom.
❖ Check the wound for increased redness, swelling, or a bad odor.
❖ Pay attention to the color and amount of drainage from your wound. Look
for drainage that has become darker or thicker.
❖ After cleaning your wound, remove your gloves and put them in the
plastic bag with the old dressing and gloves.
❖ Wash your hands again.
Dressing replacement
❖ Put on a new pair of non-sterile gloves.
❖ Pour saline into sterile container.. Place gauze pads and any packing
tape you will use in the container.
❖ Apply barrier cream.
❖ Squeeze the saline from the gauze pads or packing tape until it is no
longer dripping.
❖ Place the gauze pads or packing tape in the wound. Carefully fill in the
wound and any spaces under the skin.
❖ Cover the wet gauze or packing tape with a large dry dressing pad. Use
tape or rolled gauze to hold this dressing in place.
❖ Put all used supplies in the plastic bag. Close it securely, then put it in a
second plastic bag, and close that bag securely. Put it in the trash.
❖ Time, date and initial new dressing.
❖ Wash your hands again when you are finis [Show Less]