Warning: This Has Nothing To Do With Covid!
Wound care is a important skill to learn for preparedness situations. Of course, we all looked into sutures and how to stitch up your buddy after a gruesome knife fight, but all that is just part of the overall care for lacerations. Cleaning the wound before possibly putting in stitches and keeping the wound clean until it has healed are actually more important. It would be a waste of time and materials to suture a loved one just to have them succumb to infection afterwards. Here are two solutions you can make at home for wound care.
Saline Solution
Saline solution is used to irrigate and clean wounds at the initial stage. The object of this cleaning is the removal of gross (large sized) debris such as dirt and to disinfect the wound as much as possible.
To make saline solution you will need:
- Pot with lid
- Sterile 1 liter canning jar & lid
- 1 liter water
- Non iodized salt
Place 1 liter of water into the pot and add 2 teaspoons of the non iodized salt. Cover with the lid and boil for 15 minutes. Allow to cool with the lid still in place. Remove lid and pour into sterile canning jar and screw on the sterile lid. Saline solution can be used with an irrigation bottle or a syringe to clean wounds before suturing or dressing. Saline can also be useful in removing bandages that have become stuck in wounds that are oozing.
Dakins Solution
Dakins solution is used to prevent infection in a wound after initial treatment. It is helpful in eliminating bacteria inside the wound until it is sufficiently healed.
To make Dakins solution you will need:
- Pot with lid
- Sterile 1liter canning jar and lid
- 1 liter water
- Baking soda
- Regular unscented bleach
Place the water into the pot and cover and boil for 15 minutes. Add 3 oz bleach and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Cover pot and allow to cool. Pour solution into canning jar and screw on lid. Dakins solution is light sensitive, so keep in a dark room or cover the jar.
Note: Dakins solution is a skin irritant. Use inside the open wound and protect surrounding skin. If irritation is severe, try cutting the bleach in half or even a quarter.
Both saline solution and Dakins solution have a limited shelf life of about 30 days when sealed. Once opened, they should be used within a day or two tops. Personally, I make a couple jars of each once a month and dispose of the older stock.
