General Skin
This largest organ of the human body serves as the first line of defense against pathogens and helps regulate body temperature.
What is skin?
Fun fact: Skin accounts for roughly 16% of your body weight, making it one of the heaviest parts of your body!
These are some ways to prevent wounds from happening
Protective clothing, Footwear , Moisturizing your skin
This essential step should always be done before handling a wound to prevent contamination.
Wash and sanitize your hands
Fun facts - To effectively sanitize hands it’s recommended to wash hands for at least 20 seconds
This is the amount of time it takes for bacteria to create an infection of a wound
Bacteria can get into wounds immediately, but it takes about 2-3 days for them to grow beyond your body’s normal infection defenses
Fun fact: When bacteria break down tissue in a wound, they can release gases that result in a foul odor.
Adding pressure and elevating a wound are some ways to...
Stop bleeding from a wound faster. Adding pressure helps to reduce blood flow to an area and helps components in our blood attach and create a scab or covering for the wound
Fun fact: Redness and warmth around a wound are normal; they indicate the body is sending white blood cells to fight infection.
This vitamin is produced in the skin when exposed to sunlight and helps maintain strong bones and immune function.
What is vitamin D?
If a wound bleeds without stopping after 10-15 minutes of pressure you should
Get medical attention, as this is considered heavy bleeding
Usually our body has clotting agents that can help stop bleeding within seconds to form a plug. Eventually this can form a scab, which is your body's way of preventing further blood loss
Wound dressing should be changed when it is…
Wet, soaked, starts to smell, after 24-48 hours
What is petroleum jelly, bacitracin (antibiotic ointment)
For small, shallow scratches that are clean and not too deep, you might not need bacitracin, as the body can usually handle healing on its own. However, if the scratch is deeper, more likely to be exposed to dirt or bacteria, or if it’s in an area that's hard to keep clean, using bacitracin could help reduce the risk of infection.
These are some signs of an infection
Fever, shivering, chills, feeling unwell, color change, change in smell, Rash
Fun fact: Cleaning a wound within the first hour reduces infection risk significantly, especially for deep cuts or abrasions.
This function of your body Cools you down through evaporation, flushes out dirt, oil & impurities, and maintains electrolyte balance
Sweat
Fun fact: The thickest skin is found on the soles of your feet (1.5 mm), while the thinnest is on your eyelids (0.05 mm).
As you age, you should use this to help prevent skin tears and abrasions, especially on frail skin
What are moisturizers or skin creams?
Fun Facts: Some medical research into wound healing is inspired by lizards and amphibians, which can regenerate tissue and skin after injuries.
What’s one of the first steps you should take to clean out a scratch or a wound?
Wash it with soap and water.
Fun fact: Scars can appear red or purple initially due to increased blood flow but fade over time as healing progresses.
These organisms, normally present on healthy skin, can cause an infection when they find a moist environment like a wound.
What are bacteria?
Fun Fact: Our normal skin contains many germs that could cause an infection and some surface bacteria when given a moist environment like a wound thrive and grow a lot more than they would on healthy skin
Deep or gaping wounds may require this medical procedure to close the edges and promote healing.
Stitches
Fun fact: Wounds can take anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months to completely heal even with stitches
A damage or break in the skin that requires cleaning and care in order to prevent infection
What is wound?
Fun fact: Unlike many other organs, skin has an amazing ability to repair itself after injury, thanks to constant cell production and regeneration.
Name some examples of protein
High protein foods-canned beans, peanut butter, tuna. These can help keep your body’s defenses against infections stronger
Fun fact: Just 2 tablespoons of peanut butter contain about 8 grams of protein which is an important building block in our bodies
These are some ways to promote faster healing of a wound
Staying hydrated, reduce alcohol and smoking, try to get more rest, minimize exposure of that wound
Fun fact: wounds heal faster when you move (it improves blood flow and circulation)
These items, such as bandages and antiseptic wipes, are helpful to have on hand if you get a scratch or wound
What is a First Aid Kit?- Adhesive band aids, Gauze, Alcohol wipes, Hand sanitizer
Fun fact: band aids were invented by the Egyptians because they understood the importance of keeping wounds clean and covered to aid in healing.
Name an organization in Arizona that can help treat/find resources for your wounds
Justa Center, St Vincent de Paul, Pach clinic, any emergency department
This thick fluid, often yellow or green, can form in a wound as a sign of infection
Pus
This is a fluid that forms as a result of your body's immune system responding to bacteria, fungi, or other harmful microorganisms.
This wound type results from severe frostbite or vascular disease, leading to the death of tissue and sometimes requiring amputation.
Gangrene
Dry gangrene causes the affected area to shrivel and darken, often turning black
Dressing a wound helps you heal faster- True/False
True, dressing a wound creates the best environment for healing by maintaining moisture which allows the skin to regenerate more effectively
Scars can appear red or purple initially due to increased blood flow but fade over time as healing progresses.
When a wound becomes excessively red, swollen, or painful, you should take this action to prevent the infection from worsening.
What is seeking medical attention?
Fun fact: Some wound infections can produce colorful pus, with green or blue hues often caused by specific bacteria
This common medical condition in older adults can lead to fragile skin and increased susceptibility to wounds.
What is diabetes?
Did you know diabetes can sometimes cause skin problems? People with diabetes are more prone to dry skin, slow-healing wounds, and skin infections among other things