The cleansing of the wound should be done carefully, to avoid further injury, but must be effective enough to remove foreign materials, such as dirt and gravel. Dead tissue and foreign matter in the wound provide an excellent medium for bacterial growth, so this is the most important step. Such wounds should be protected with a sterile covering, if possible, and immediate treatment from a physician should be obtained. It is important to clean the skin around the wound to remove other dirt and oils that may enter the wound. Clean this area with soap and water also, and rinse well.
Many individuals like to clean wounds with hydrogen peroxide.
This will help to keep further bacteria out of the wound and prevent infection. The bandage should not be airtight, since this traps the normal moisture given off by the skin and encourages bacteria to grow and may delay healing. If the wound is more of a scrape than a cut, one of the nonstickable coverings may be helpful. For most wounds, a scab will form in a few days. Changing bandages It is important that wounds be kept clean and dry.