Wounds

Farmer’s hands often have this problem. They get knocked around a lot when they are using machinery, handling animals, not to mention being damaged by detergents particularly in dairies.  This can make it hard for wounds to heal properly.

To help wounds heal you need to keep them covered. We often hear that it’s good to let wounds ‘breathe’ but this is usually not true. In most cases dry wounds do not heal well. That is a dry cell is a dead cell. To heal wounds need a moist and warm environment that is provided by a bandaid type dressing.

How to care for wounds

• Wash your hands with soap and dry with a clean towel or paper towel to reduce the risk of infection.
• Clean the wound by running warm water at moderate pressure directly over the wound for a few minutes.
• Make sure any water you use to clean wounds is 'drinkable' quality.
• Dry the skin around the wound by gently patting it with a clean towel, but try not to touch the actual wound.
• Apply antiseptic and cover the clean wound with a gauze type dressing or bandaid.
• Leave the dressing on for around 3 days before you change it, unless it gets dirty while you’re working on the farm – then you need to change it daily. It is normal for wounds to ooze a little so do not be alarmed.
• To remove the dressing from the wounds soak in warm water (or soak in the shower) to make it easier to remove. You don’t want to pull of new cells that your body has been busy making.

Remember to eat well and drink plenty of water, wounds need a lot of vitamins, proteins and water to build new cells, so good nutrition is essential.

Infection
Wounds can become infected. Signs of infection include:

• Pus
• Swelling
• Pain
• Smelling bad
• Fever
• Pain when using – loss of function

To care for an infected wound you may need to use a medicated dressing. Get medical help if wounds are not healing or you are concerned, sometimes infected wounds require antibiotic treatment and become red, inflamed and hot.

Caring for a newly healed wound
Newly healed wounds are fragile, so try to avoid more knock. Use a moisturising cream like sorbolene to keep the skin soft and avoid direct sunlight.

Find out more about wound care