Before continuing see the note on use of this Guide

Wounds are injuries in which the integrity of soft tissues is lost. In case of profuse bleeding see hemorrhages. The classification of wounds allows us to give them the best treatment according to each case:

• open wounds in which the skin breaks, either superficially or deeper, they are more susceptible to infection.
• closed wounds on them the skin does not tear ; They are usually produced by blows, however there is a great risk of internal bleeding, so they should also be evaluated as soon as possible by medical personnel.
• simple wounds are more superficial, they only damage the outer layers of the skin.
• complicated wounds. They are deeper, damaging various tissues such as muscles, ligaments, bones or other organs. They are at greater risk of bleeding or infection. They must be treated as an Emergency by medical services.

The tear, sprain or luxation are treated as injuries; as fractures and burns are explained in separate articles.

Cuts:

The cut is a penetrating wound or laceration that breaks the skin tissue somewhere in the body. It can also affect other tissues such as muscles, tendons, nerves, and so on. Puncture is a cut by a sharp object. The types of cuts can be:

• bites or stings by animals, insects ...
  
• scrapes or abrasives caused by friction of the skin with another surface
• cuts or incised with sharp objects knives, scissors, blades, etc.
• stabbing . caused by pointed objects such as nails, needles, sticks, etc.
• sharps injury. a combination of the previous two
• avulsion. they are those where the victim's tissues are torn and separated.

The greatest risk of cuts occurs when there is profuse bleeding, blood loss should be avoided by pressure on the wound, or some other means (see hemorrhage).

First Aids:

Proper treatment of a wound greatly reduces the risk of infection. In case of simple wounds follow these steps:

1. If there is severe bleeding see hemorrhage
2. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap
3. Wash the wound with neutral soap. Wait for it to dry.
4. Cover the wound with a gauze and bandage it.
5. A magnet with negative polarity may be placed to reduce inflammation and pain.
6. If there is a large hematoma (bruise) or considerable inflammation, go to a hospital for a review, as there may be internal bleeding.

Very deep and / or extensive wounds should be reviewed and treated by medical personnel who will define the measures to follow, surgery may be required to suture the wound. In case you have an object embedded in the wound, do not remove it, wait for the medical staff to take care of it.

Accident prevention

Most injuries are caused by accidents that can be prevented, and to a lesser extent they are agressions by third parties such as blows or the use of weapons. In the first case we can take several preventive measures such as:

• Keep the floor free of objects such as toys, books, food scraps, etc.
• Avoid slippery floors and install non-slip fittings, as well as railings.
• Climb cautiously on stairs and benches.
• Properly fix shelves and furniture.
• Monitor babies and young children at all times to avoid putting themselves at risk, for example using sharp objects, putting objects in their mouths or climbing to high places.
• Instruct children about accidents and how to avoid them
• Use the transport in accordance with safety rules: seat belts, baby seats, speed limits, and so on.
• On the street, respect the traffic rules: use crosswalks, do not run on stairs.
• When walking or driving a car or some other transport do not get distracted by electronic devices such as mobile phone, tablet, etc.
• When practicing a sport follow the instructions of the instructor, use the necessary safety equipment.
• At work, follow the regulations and use safety equipment.