Have you ever fallen while riding a motorcycle, cycling, or skateboarding or rollerblading and blistered your skin? If so, you have a friction sore called a road rash. Road rash can be burning and painful. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to check for and treat road rashes.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Preliminary Examination
Step 1. If you can, move yourself to a safe place
If the accident occurs in a dangerous place, such as in the middle of a highway, move yourself to a safer place (by the side of the road) if you can. This way saves you from further harm.
Step 2. Stabilize a life-threatening wound
Make sure you (or the injured person) can move normally and don't have a fracture. If any of these occur, stop immediately and call or have someone else call emergency services.
If you have a head injury, be aware of the symptoms of a concussion and seek medical attention as soon as possible
Step 3. Check the severity of the wound
If you can't see your own wound, have someone else examine it. Call emergency services if the wound:
- Deep enough that fat, muscle, or bone tissue is visible.
- Bleeding profusely. Apply pressure to the wound with your hand, cloth/cloth, or other material to slow the bleeding while waiting for help to arrive.
- Very wide and rough-edged.
Step 4. Check for any other injuries
Sores can occur under the skin so they are not visible. If you ever lose consciousness, feel confused, can't move normally, or have severe pain, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Part 2 of 4: Immediate Handling
Step 1. Wash your hands before starting to treat the wound
To prevent infection, wash your hands properly with warm water and soap before starting to treat the wound. To be on the safe side, put on disposable gloves before cleaning the wound.
Step 2. Stop the bleeding
If bleeding occurs, stop it by applying pressure to the wound.
- Place gauze or a clean cloth on the bleeding area and apply pressure for a few minutes.
- If the cloth or gauze is soaked with blood, replace it with a new one.
- If the bleeding doesn't stop after 10 minutes of pressure, see a doctor as soon as possible as the wound may need stitches or other treatment.
Step 3. Wash the wound with cold water
Run cold water on the wound. Ask someone else for help if you can't see or reach the wound yourself. Run the entire wound area with cold water long enough to remove any adhering dirt.
Step 4. Clean the wound
Clean the area around the wound with water and antibacterial soap. Soap should not touch the wound as it can cause irritation. This step is done to remove dirt, kill bacteria, and prevent infection.
Wounds are usually disinfected with hydrogen peroxide or iodine. However, these two substances can actually damage body cells. Therefore, medical professionals now recommend not disinfecting wounds with hydrogen peroxide or iodine
Step 5. Remove dirt
If there is a foreign object in the wound, such as dust, sand, pieces of wood, etc., remove it with tweezers that have been sterilized by rubbing with a cotton ball or gauze soaked in isopropyl alcohol. After removing the dirt with tweezers, rinse the wound with cold water.
If dirt or foreign matter is so deep in the wound that it cannot be removed with tweezers, see a doctor
Step 6. Pat the wound dry with a clean towel
After cleaning and washing, gently pat the wound with a clean cloth or towel until it is dry. Do not rub the wound with a towel or cloth so as not to aggravate the pain.
Step 7. Apply antibiotic cream to the wound, especially if the wound gets dirty
This method prevents infection and helps the healing process.
- There are many types of antibiotic creams and ointments; each contains a different active ingredient or combination, such as bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin. Carefully follow the instructions for use listed on the package of antibiotic cream/ointment.
- Some creams/ointments that are a combination of three antibiotics, such as "Neosporin", contain neomycin which can trigger an allergic skin reaction. Stop using the cream/ointment if redness, itching, swelling, etc. appear after the cream/ointment is applied to the wound. Replace with creams/ointments made from polymyxin or bacitracin, without neomycin.
- Alternatively, apply petrolatum or "Aquaphor" to the wound if, for some reason, you cannot use a topical antibiotic cream. This method keeps the wound moist during the healing process.
Step 8. Bandage the wound. The wound must be covered with a bandage during the healing period to protect it from dirt, infection, or irritation caused by rubbing clothes. Cover the wound with a non-sticky bandage, such as "Telfa," or sterile gauze attached with a plaster or elastic.
Step 9. Lift the wound
As much as possible, raise the wound higher than your heart to relieve swelling and pain. This method is most effective if done within the first 24-48 hours of injury and if the wound is severe or infected.
Part 3 of 4: Advanced Medicine
Step 1. Replace the bandage with a new one if necessary
Change the wound dressing with a new one once a day or if the bandage gets wet or dirty. Clean the wound with water and antibacterial soap.
Step 2. Apply an antibiotic cream daily
Every time you change the bandage, apply an antibiotic cream. This method alone does not speed up the healing process, but it can minimize the risk of infection and keep the wound moist so that the wound does not move and form scar tissue.
Step 3. Lift the wound
As much as possible, raise the wound higher than your heart to relieve swelling and pain. This method is very helpful in the healing process of severe or infected wounds.
Step 4. Relieve pain
Unless your doctor tells you to, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, if the wound is painful.
- Ibuprofen is also an anti-inflammatory so it can help reduce swelling.
- If the skin around the wound becomes dry or itchy, apply a moisturizing skin lotion.
- Wear clothes that don't irritate the wound. If you can, wear clothes that don't rub against the wound while it's healing. For example, if the wound is on the arm, wear short sleeves; if the wound is on the leg, wear shorts. This method minimizes pain.
Step 5. Adopt a healthy eating and drinking pattern
Drink plenty of fluids (at least 1.5-2 liters of fluids, especially water, every day) and eat healthy foods during your recovery. Keeping the body hydrated and properly nourished speeds up the healing process.
Step 6. Limit physical activity
During the healing period, rest the injured body part. For example, if the wound is on your leg, don't do strenuous physical activities like running or climbing. Preventing overuse of injured body parts speeds up the healing process.
Step 7. Watch the healing process
If treated properly, road rash usually resolves within two weeks.
The duration of wound healing is influenced by several factors, such as age, nutritional intake, smoking habits, stress levels, illness, and others. In addition, antibiotic creams actually only prevent infection, not speed up the healing process. If the wound doesn't seem to be improving or doesn't heal, see a doctor as soon as possible as this may be a symptom of something more serious
Step 8. See a doctor if the wound gets worse or becomes infected
See a doctor if:
- There is dirt or foreign matter in the wound that cannot be removed.
- The wound area has signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, warmth, or pain.
- Red streaks appeared that spread from the wound.
- The wound oozes pus and especially if accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
- Experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and others.
Part 4 of 4: Precautions
Step 1. Wear protective clothing and equipment
As much as possible, wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves and long pants, to protect the skin. When performing hazardous activities, wear proper protective equipment. Wearing protective gear minimizes the chance of injury from falling.
- For example, wear elbow, wrist, and knee protectors when doing activities such as skateboarding or rollerblading.
- Wearing a helmet protects the head from injury when doing similar activities, such as cycling or riding a motorcycle.
Step 2. Put safety first
Know how to use activity equipment properly, such as motorbikes, bicycles, and so on. In addition, do not perform dangerous or reckless actions. Being careful on the road is the easiest way to minimize the risk of road rash.
Step 3. Make sure your tetanus immunization is still effective
Road rash wounds are usually exposed to dust, metal, or other dirt so that they are at risk of getting infected with tetanus. Adults should renew their tetanus immunization if they have a dirty wound and it has been more than five years since they last received a tetanus immunization. If you experience a road rash, consult your doctor immediately to get a tetanus immunization as soon as possible.
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