Personal health - Home remedies

November 9, 1993

Nothing feels better than being footloose and fancy-free, but when one of those loose feet meets a sharp object, your carefree thoughts may disappear quickly.

Puncture holes in the skin can produce a lot of pain, not to mention a lot of concern.

A big-league wound calls for emergency-room care or at least a call to the doctor. But if your puncture wound is minor enough to be treated at home, here's how: Irrigate immediately. Even if there's some bleeding, the first thing you should do is wash the puncture thoroughly with soap and water. Your biggest concern isn't the blood but the risk of infection, so it's essential that you clean the wound as quickly as possible. If you don't have soap, just use water.

Let it bleed (for a few minutes, anyway). If there's no water around, let your blood do the work. People often think the most important thing to do is control the bleeding, but the blood can help wash away bacteria. After a few minutes, of course, bleeding should be controlled by pressing on the puncture site. (Reminder: If there's spurting blood or if the bleeding won't stop, call a doctor at once.)

Heal it with warmth. If you notice redness around the wound, a hot-water soak can help by increasing blood flow. The increased blood flow from heat brings in white blood cells that kill bacteria. Soak the area for 15 minutes four times a day in hot water.

Keep the puncture uncovered if possible. If you don't have to cover the wound with a bandage, don't. It's always better to let it dry in the air, but if the area will get rubbed, then cover it with a bandage.

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