Post-emergency wound care is a critical part of dealing with an emergency. Here are some quick tips on taking care of your injury in the days ahead and make certain to carefully follow the emergency doctor’s discharge instructions. If this means following up with your primary care physician, make sure to do so as soon as possible.

Burns
A burn goes home from the hospital covered with an antibiotic ointment or cream and wrapped with a gauze dressing. When it’s time to clean the wound, remove the gauze, and rinse the skin with warm water, washing it with a mild soap. Baby shampoo is best. Don’t pour hydrogen peroxide on it—it is bad for healing burns. Gently apply any prescribed cream or ointment and cover with a clean dressing. Don’t “pop any blisters” that may occur with a burn unless instructed by your doctor.  While you’re healing, watch for signs of infection: redness; swelling or pus; a nasty odor at the burn site; or fever and chills. If this occurs, then you should return to the  emergency room for re-evaluation.  For at least six months, apply SPF 30 sunblock when you go outside to avoid skin discoloration.

Stitches
Stitches (or sutures) help deep cuts heal without infection. New stitches should be kept dry for about 24 hours. After that you can cleanse the area with warm running water and a mild soap like baby shampoo. Your doctor may have you apply a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin and cover with a clean, dry dressing or Band-Aid. The blue or black stitches that are usually used in emergency departments have to be removed, typically in seven to 10 days. For stitches in the face it’s three to five days; for joint and high-tension areas such as knees and elbows, it’s 10 to 14 days. The doctor will to tell you exactly when the stitches should be removed. As with burns, watch for infection and apply sunblock to the scar for six months.

Beyond Stitches
For some cuts, an adhesive that you might think of as “medical superglue” is used. Once applied, the adhesive forms a clear, waterproof seal on top of the wound. Try to keep the glue as dry as possible, and don’t apply ointments or a tight dressing because that may pull off the glue. The adhesive typically peels off by itself in seven to 10 days. 

Remember to use topical ointments and creams as directed by your doctor. And avoid using Vaseline, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as these can be very damaging to tissue trying to heal.