so what are you supposed to do to properly clean a wound?

[charliesmama2003]

i have read so many different ways to properly clean a wound. i am TERRIFIED of my curious 2 yr old getting tetnus and realized i dont really know what to use. i have read just plain soap and water, use a hypercal tincture, hydrogen peroxide....the list goes on.

if someone could please post what is the best way to clean such a wound, i would really appreciate it.

thx

[kcocat]

This may not be the 'official' right way to clean a wound, but....


I had to have an ingrown toenail removed on both sides of my big toe which left a 3 mm wide strip of exposed raw,bleeding skin along each side of the nail(I know...gross...) and as I was nursing, I didn't want to take antibiotics to prevent infection so, this 'old school' podiatrist had me do the following....

Soak in epsom salts 3x per day for 15 minutes, followed by putting betadine on the wound (I poured it over) and letting it sit for 5 minutes, then pour hydrogen peroxide over that, wrap up in gauze and tape it. Do this for a week.

Initially I thought the guy was a quack, but I tell ya - I didn't get an infection and it healed up quite nicely! I must admit I only did it twice per day also (was just too hard with a demanding 2 month old!)

So, likely there are many different ways to do it - this one may be more hard-core than you need, If it was me I would just pick whatever method seems to make the most sense to you and monitor the wound closely for redness, swelling, puss, etc. - anything to indicate it might be infected. Obviously, this is not medical advice....just an idea based on my previous experience.

[Gitti]

I use plain water, plenty of it. Then I put a little tee tree oil on it. That's it.

Please do not be afraid of tetanus. That one should be the least of your worries. Tetanus in a child is virtually unheard of except in Africa where they cover the umbilical stump with mud.

Children have a very quick circulatory system. That is why they bleed freely and a lot. If a wound bleeds, even just a wee little bit, you do not ever have to worry about tetanus.

Gosh, all the terrible cuts I had as a (free-spirited, rambunctious) kid. I slashed my whole upper arm open on a rusty barbed wire fence (learning to ride a bike) and no one even gave it a second thought. I bled like a pig and that cleaned the wound out effectively.
Once I took off almost half my knee cap and a part of my large toe at another time. My mother calmed me by saying "Don't worry, you won't die!" that was about the extent of her TLC.
But it worked. It made me feel almost indestructible and somehow proud of myself.

I use the same words when my grandson gets hurt. And often he beats me to it. He is strong and healthy and a little blood or germs and viruses won't get him down.

Concentrate on health and believe in the child's strength and robust immune system.

[mamakay]

The best way to clean a wound is to let it bleed a little.
Maybe a little hydrogen peroxide after that.
That's it.

[menudo]

I have to say you are worrying because somewhere inside something is telling you a vaccine would prevent an infection, etc. Now in reality, that is not true! IMO, vaccines do not work. If anything, they weaken the immune system. So your child NOT being vaccinated, he or she MAY have a stronger immune system to fight any infection off.

I used to vaccinate. I now would never do so. I believe the ydo NO GOOD and only harm. I havea wild, daredevil unvaxed child. HE has has stitches already (he is 3yo) and I have never hada concern of disease b/c he is not vaccinated. Now my vaccinated child: had cuts turn into infections, some real rough illnesses. Coincidence? Maybe/Maybe not. She was originally treated in a maintsream manner and not until I stopped did her issues improve!

[Jen123]

What I've done personally....

let the wound bleed. if it won't bleed , poke gently with a clean sewing needle (dipped in peroxide). Once the wound bleeds , just a little even the threat of tetanus is gone. Only ONCE did I go to a main stream doc after a serious dog bite. I flat out told her I did not want the tetanus vax , I just wanted her to make the wound bleed because I couldn't. (the bite was on my backside).

I agree with the previous poster , once you remember that vaxes do more harm than good you'll quit worrying. Do some extensive studies on how the immune system really works. It's fascinating. Then do some studies on how vaxes 'work'. WOW. Fraken-science !

[AngelBee]

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[annelizabeth]

Betadine interferes with new tissue growth. I would only put it on intact skin to clean.

I think the best cleaner is plain normal saline.