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Always wash the area around the
wound thoroughly. Puncture wounds are
especially prone to infection, so monitor
the injury site closely for a couple of days
following removal. Increasing stiffness or
other signs of infection warrant prompt
evaluation by a doctor.
Infected Wounds
Scratches, insect bites, broken blisters
and other wounds are common in
wilderness environments, and they may
be more prone to infection than when
they occur at home. Sweat, dirt, physical
stress, high altitude, a less-varied diet
and suboptimal hygiene are all factors
that can predispose wilderness travelers
to infected wounds.
The acronym SHARP can help you
assess whether a wound is getting
infected. SHARP stands for swelling, heat,
aches/pains, redness and pus. Wounds
that aren’t infected or are only minimally
so won’t be particularly swollen or hot
to the touch, they won’t have associated
deep-tissue soreness, and redness and
pus will be minimal. Seriously infected
wounds may cause stiffness or soreness,
and red streaks may be visible. Pus may
be abundant, and the patient may have
a fever or general malaise. Any signs of
serious infection should be considered
a medical emergency and require
immediate medical attention.
The best way to keep wounds from
getting infected is to clean them
thoroughly right after they occur, dress
and bandage them, and change the
dressings daily. If signs of infection
appear, reclean the wound, apply moist
heat (as hot as the patient can tolerate)
every 4 to 6 hours, and change the
dressings multiple times per day. Give
over-the-counter pain medications such
as ibuprofen, and promote rest and
hydration. For remote trips, consider
talking to your doctor about options for
antibiotic therapy before you travel. If
symptoms of infection do not respond
promptly to available treatment, get the
patient medical attention as soon as
possible.
As with major medical problems,
preparation and prevention are the best
methods of managing the small stuff.
A proactive mindset will help ensure
you aren’t caught off guard by “minor”
mishaps.
AD
Thorough cleaning and diligent monitoring can prevent infected wounds from interrupting your travels.
Opposite: Although removing impaled objects isn’t generally recommended, it’s reasonable to extract
small or superficially embedded fish hooks.
STEPHEN FRINK
silver
cinema of dreams
800-451-3737
info@seacamusa.com
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