Summer Wound Care: Beat the Heat
With Summer now upon us, it is important to be mindful of the challenges this season presents for our patients’ wounds. Summer’s high temperatures, social activities, and busy schedules all tend to further complicate the wound healing process. Being mindful of the foremost wound healing challenges during summer can give you a head start on mitigating any possible difficulties. Staying focused on preventing the spread of germs, caring for the wound’s surface, and staying in good health will keep your patients on track this summer through each of the stages of wound healing.
Minimizing Germ Contact:
Any breakage in the skin can allow germs to work their way into your system. At that point, the only hope against infection is the success of the immune system. Patients can protect themselves against bacteria in their wound by avoiding encounters with high-risk surfaces and substances. For example, while dealing with an open wound, completely avoid swimming in open bodies of water, especially stagnant lakes and streams possibly contaminated with various types of waste. If suffering from diabetic foot ulcers, do not wear open-toed shoes like flip flops as they increase the risk of developing small cuts and abrasions that can lead to infections.
Maintaining Clean Bandages:
During the summer, people enjoy hiking trails, laying on the beach, riding bicycles, and many other outdoor activities. Summertime activities like these, however, can introduce sweat and dirt to bandages, which can then potentially contaminate the covered wound. To facilitate healing, it is vital to keep wound dressings clean at all times. When enjoying time outdoors, encourage patients to wrap bandage edges in a layer of medical tape or sticky gauze, and then change them after returning home.
Moisturizing Wound Surface:
If the surface of a wound dries out too quickly, it could start to heal from the outside in, potentially trapping infectious material beneath the skin’s layers. Trapped infections often worsen until an abscess comes to the surface and reopens the wound. Keeping wounds moist by utilizing advanced wound care products, like hydrocolloid dressings, is crucial during the Summer months.
Staying Adequately Hydrated:
Without proper hydration, cells in the body cannot properly progress through the normal stages of healing to repair and rebuild tissue. In normal conditions, the body requires about 64 ounces of fluid per day. On hot days, or while healing from stubborn wounds, it is important to consume even more liquid to avoid becoming dehydrated. The majority of fluid intake should come from water, but a small percentage can also come from moisture-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.
Obtaining Proper Nutrition:
Adequate consumption of fruits & vegetables can also assist the body in healing acute and chronic wounds. Vitamins and minerals in certain foods give the immune system the boost it needs to quickly heal damage to skin and other tissues. Throughout the summer, encourage patients to consume more immune-boosting foods like watermelon, grapefruit, cabbage and mushrooms to help jump start the immune process required for proper wound healing.
If you enjoyed this article, or have other tips for summer wound care you'd like to share, please feel free to comment below!
References:
“4 Tips for Wound Healing in Summer.” Advanced Tissue, 13 Aug. 2018, advancedtissue.com/2015/07/4-tips-for-wound-healing-in-summer/.
“The 5 Challenges of Wound Healing During the Summer.” Advanced Tissue, 19 July 2017, advancedtissue.com/2015/06/the-5-challenges-of-wound-healing-during-the-summer/.
Kramer, John. “Healthwise: Six Tips to Overcome Wound Healing Challenges in the Summer.” MY CENTRAL JERSEY, Courier News and Home News Tribune, 24 July 2017, www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/health/2017/07/24/healthwise-six-tips-overcome-wound-healing-challenges-summer/498503001/.
