Wound Care Supplies Every Contractor Should Keep On Hand
Posted on: 17 January 2020
Working as a contractor comes with its risks. You may hurt your back lifting something heavy or sprain an ankle carrying appliances upstairs. However, the biggest risk is superficial wounds, like cuts and scrapes. Most of these are not terribly serious, but you will still need to care for the wounds properly. Here are the wound care supplies you should keep on-hand in order to do so.
Iodine
Iodine is a readily available antiseptic treatment that is excellent for sanitizing wounds. You should look for it in a 10% concentration. There are a few popular brands that sell it in small, 4-ounce bottles, which is just about enough to keep on-hand in a basic first aid kit.
Gauze Pads
A package of gauze pads is also important for wound care. You can use the gauze pads to apply the iodine to a cut or scrape. Don't use cotton balls. Tiny bits of cotton can break off the cotton balls and get caught in the wound. Gauze does not break apart in this manner.
Antibiotic Cream
An antibiotic cream is perfect for applying to the wound after you use iodine to clean it out. Not only does this ointment continue to kill any bacteria in the wound and prevent an infection, but it will also serve as a barrier to keep additional dust and debris from entering the wound — and there can be a lot of dust and debris around when you work as a contractor. The best antibiotic creams to buy are triple antibiotic creams. These contain three different active ingredients to increase the chances of actually killing dangerous bacteria.
Site-Specific Bandages
Adhesive bandages are really important for covering wounds. But don't just buy plain, flat ones. If you get a minor cut on the tip of your finger or a knuckle, these plain bandages won't stay in place very well as you continue working. So add some bandages designed specifically for finger tips and knuckles to your wound care kit.
Tweezers
Splinters are one of the most common kinds of wounds contractors suffer from. While most are pretty minor, pulling the wood sliver out can be tough! A pair of tweezers makes this so much easier. With the splinter out, you can then dab on some antibiotic ointment and a bandage, and get right back to work.
With the proper wound care kit, you can ensure you're prepared for the little accidents that are sure to happen when you're a contractor.
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