Wounds are a physical injury that results in an opening or break of the skin. All wounds need first aid (and medical attention if the wound is serious) in order to ensure proper healing and to avoid infection.

Always wash your hands with soap before and after giving first aid in order to avoid infection.

The following types of wounds are more likely to become infected: bites, punctures, crushing injuries, dirty wounds, wounds on the feet, and wounds that do not receive prompt medical attention.

Phases of Wound Healing
The entire wound healing process is a complex series of events that begins at the moment of injury and can continue for months to years. Let's identifying the various stages of wound healing:

I. Inflammatory Phase
A) Immediate to 2-5 days
B) Hemostasis
* Vasoconstriction
* Platelet aggregation
* Thromboplastin makes clot
C) Inflammation
* Vasodilation
* Phagocytosis

II. Proliferative Phase
A) 2 days to 3 weeks
B) Granulation
* Fibroblasts lay bed of collagen
* Fills defect and produces new capillaries
C) Contraction
* Wound edges pull together to reduce defect
D) Epithelialization
* Crosses moist surface
* Cell travel about 3 cm from point of origin in all directions

III. Remodeling Phase
A) 3 weeks to 2 years
B) New collagen forms which increases tensile strength to wounds
C) Scar tissue is only 80 percent as strong as original tissue