A wound is a break or tear to the surface of the skin. Wounds can result from injury, burn, surgery or a skin condition, and can vary in depth and size depending on the mechanism. Wounds that occur and heal quick are considered acute, whilst a wound that requires months to heal is chronic.

Tips for wound care:

• Try to avoid physical activities that might harm your wound. For example, running, riding bikes, exercising at the gym, playing in sandpits or mud.
• Do not soak your wound in a bath or go swimming until your wound has healed.
• Do not put any antiseptic solutions or ointments on your wound. This can slow the healing time.
• If you have pain, you can take pain relief medicine like paracetamol. Take it following the instructions on the packet. If the pain is severe, even after taking medication for pain, see your doctor.
• Don’t pick at the stitches or scab as this may slow the healing.
• Once the skin has healed it will be fragile and need extra care and protection. Avoid the sun if possible. Use SPF 30+ sunscreen and wear protective clothing.

If your wound has stitches or staples:

• If you have a dressing on your wound, keep it dry and in place for _____ days.
• Remove your dressing and gently wash the area with water only. Carefully pat the area dry using a clean towel.
• If you have non dissolvable stitches or staples, these will need to be removed by a health care professional. You will need to come back to the Walk-in Centre on ___________ to have your stitches or staples removed.
• If you have dissolvable stitches these will dissolve in 1-2 weeks – but they can take up to 4 weeks to dissolve.

If your wound has Steri-Strips™:

• Steri-Strips™ are thin adhesive strips that can be applied to help close small wounds by pulling the edges of your wound together. Steri-Strips™ can also provide wound support following stitch or staple removal.
• Keep your wound clean and dry for the first 48 hours. After this time, you can wet it briefly in the shower. Do not submerge wound in any body of water including pools, dams or rivers.
• Do not pick the Steri-Strips™.
• Steri-Strips™ should peel away naturally within one week or you can remove them yourself, or ask your GP, or Nurse to remove them after 5-7 days. To remove Steri-Strips™, moisten the strips with warm water and gently peel off the strips.
• You can carefully trim your Steri-Strips™ if they are lifting at the edges.

If your wound has skin glue:

• Keep your wound clean and dry for the first 48 hours. You can wet it briefly in the shower. Do not submerge in any body of water.
• Do not pick at the glue.
• The glue will gradually peel away naturally within 1 to 2 weeks.

Other wounds including burns, grazes and skin tears:

Today the nurse has put on _________________  dressing.

• Keep your dressing dry and on until ______________.
• If your dressing gets wet, it will need to be removed and have a new dressing applied. You may come back to the Walk-in Centre for a new dressing earlier than the above date.
• Come back to the Walk-in Centre on ______________  to have your dressing checked.
• If your wound needs care for longer than 7 days, the Walk in Centre might refer you to Community Nursing services. You can still visit the Walk in Centre while you wait for your referral to be processed.

How will I know if I have an infection?

Your wound may have an infection if you have one or more of these symptoms:

• You have a high temperature (above 38 °C), shivers, or chills.
• Your wound starts to have a bad smell or there is fluid coming from your wound.
• The skin around your wound is red, swollen, or hard.
• You feel increased pain in or near your wound, even after taking pain medication.
• You feel heat in or near your wound.
  Your wound looks like it is opening.

If you have any of these symptoms, talk with your GP, go to a Walk-in Centre (if you are in Canberra) or in a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call an ambulance (dial 000)