General Catalogue 2023 DIGITAL

269 First Aid measures after injuries with Hepatitis-B/C and HIV infected material Tear wounds Tear wounds and rhagades are quite characteristic of frayed wound edges, in contrast to cuts. These pose an increased risk of infection. This is why treating these wounds begins with generous cleansing. As is often the case with rhagades, any calluses around the wound edges need to be carefully removed. Otherwise, the wound will not be able to heal shut. Only a doctor may do a primary suture (e.g. staples) if it is needed for wound closure. Skin blisters (bullae) Foot care professionals encounter skin blisters almost every day - often on the heels and toes, or under the sole of the foot. Excessive and unusual friction creates a cavity filled with lymph fluid between the epidermis and dermis. This protects the irritated dermis - kind of like a biological wound dressing - and should not be damaged or removed. Only large blisters can be punctured. This is also something that only a doctor should do. If the blister is already open, then the epidermis should not be removed. This is when a hydrocolloid plaster such as GEHWOL Blister Plaster could speed up healing. Skin detachment Detachment of the skin from the subdermal cellular tissues is very painful and leads to a severely bleeding wound. Treatment should be performed by a doctor. The doctor is normally the first starting point for a patient with detached skin. However, diabetics with neuropathy unfortunately often acquire such a foot lesion without noticing it. Very often, it is the foot care professional who first dis- covers such injuries. You must send such a patient straight to a doctor. For there is a risk of the detached skin area dying off (gangrene). Everything done right The currently valid laws state that wound care is a form of medicine and is therefore not part of the expertise of a foot care professional or podologist. This means that only a doctor is allowed to provide medical wound care. However, one is obligated to provide First Aid. But if you cross the line to medical wound care, you may possibly make yourself guilty of a bodily injury. To protect yourself and your customers against harm, you should note some behavioural guidelines: • Lack of knowledge does not protect you against penalties! As a foot specialist, you have to know what you are and are not allowed to do. And: • You have to know what you are doing. • Document precisely whether and with what wounds your patient came to you, and have them confirm it. • Seek medical support! • Inform your patient in a corresponding conflict situa- tion! • Refresh your First Aid knowledge. • Protect yourself! Use gloves, mouth protection and regularly refresh your vaccine protection, and become familiar with required First Aid measures after injuries with potentially infectious materials. Stab injuries • Increase blood flow • Allow to bleed out > 1 minute • Disinfect with 80% alcohol • In Hepatitis B/C, immediate passive vaccination with immuno- globulin Cut injury • Increase blood flow • Flush with a virucidal antiseptic • Disinfectionautexposition Skin exposure (in previously damaged skin) • Remove the infected material using alcohol swabs • Soak the affected and adjacent areas with 80% alcohol Eye exposure • Immediately flush with plenty of water, possibly with 5% aqueous PVP solution or Betaisodona solution 1:1 Oral cavity exposure • Immediately spit out several times • Repeatedly flush with 80% alcohol several times WO U N D C A R E WOUND CARE