Emergency Wound Care

This guide explains how to give basic wound care when medical help is not available. Even small cuts can become serious infections after a disaster.

Learn how to clean, cover, and check wounds safely, and when to seek urgent medical help.

Early care can prevent life-threatening infections like tetanus or sepsis.

First Aid For Wounds

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water, if possible.
2. 1. If you don’t have bottled water, clean water means:
   2. 1. Filtered water, or
      2. Boiled and cooled water (boil for 1 minute and let cool),
      3. Water that has been disinfected using chlorine tablets
3. Avoid touching the wound with your fingers while treating it (if possible, use disposable gloves).
4. Remove obstructive jewellery and clothing from the injured body part.
5. If there's something stuck in the wound, do not try to take it out: Make sure not to press down on the object. Press firmly either side of it to push the edges of the wound together.
   If there's nothing in the wound: apply direct pressure on it using a bandage or a clean, folded cloth to control bleeding.
6. Clean the wound after bleeding has stopped.
7. 1. Examine wounds for dirt and foreign objects.
   2. Gently flood the wound with bottled water or clean running water (if available, saline solution is preferred).
   3. Gently clean around the wound with soap and clean water.
   4. Pat dry and apply an adhesive bandage or dry clean cloth.
8. Leave unclean wounds, bites and punctures open. Wounds that are not cleaned correctly can trap bacteria and result in infection.
9. Provide pain relievers when possible.
10. Review the wound every 24 hours.

Where To Learn More:

• Severe Bleeding Guide – For wounds with heavy bleeding or signs of shock (e.g. pale skin, fast breathing, confusion). Covers how to control bleeding, deal with embedded objects, and manage severed parts.
• Cuts and Grazes Guide – For smaller wounds like cuts and scrapes. Explains cleaning, dressing, and when to get medical help.

Take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

Avoid contact with flood waters if you have an open wound.

Keep open wounds as clean as possible by washing thoroughly with soap and clean water.

Cover clean, open wounds with a waterproof bandage to reduce chance of infection.

​Seek immediate medical care if a wound develops redness, swelling, or oozing or other signs of working infection such as fever, increasing pain, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, or confusion or disorientation, high heart rate.

Seek Urgent Medical Attention If:

• There is a foreign object (soil, wood, metal, or other objects) embedded in the wound
• A wound is a result of an animal bite
• A wound is a result of a puncture by a dirty object
• The wound is infected (pain and soreness, swelling, redness, draining, or you develop a fever)
• You have signs of sepsis such as confusion or disorientation, shortness of breath, high heart rate, fever or shivering, extreme  pain or discomfort or clammy or sweaty skin. 

Tetanus Protection After a Wound

Tetanus is a serious infection caused by bacteria found in soil, dust, and animal waste. 

It enters the body through cuts or puncture wounds and can cause muscle spasms, breathing problems, and death if not treated quickly.

If you have any wounds, ask a healthcare professional if you need a tetanus shot. You may need a booster if the wound is: 

• A puncture wound (e.g. nail, metal, splinter)
• Contaminated with soil, faeces, or saliva

⏱️ Tetanus can develop quickly — it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible, especially if you're unsure of your vaccination history.

Learn more about tetanus and symptoms on the Tetanus Guide.