What to do

Suggestions to help you take care of your wound between visits.

These suggestions do not replace professional medical advice. If you are unsure or feel your condition is worsening, contact your care team.

Common situations

Choose a situation to see what you can do.

BleedingThere is blood coming from my wound.See what to do
  1. Stay calm and sit or lie down.
  2. Place a clean dressing or cloth over the wound and press firmly.
  3. Keep steady pressure for 10 minutes without lifting to check.
  4. If the dressing soaks through, add another on top — do not remove the first.
  5. Once the bleeding slows, re-cover the wound with a clean dressing.

When to get help: If bleeding is heavy or does not stop after 10 minutes of pressure, seek immediate care.

Increased painMy wound hurts more than usual.See what to do
  1. Take your pain medication exactly as prescribed by your care team.
  2. Avoid pressure on the wound and keep the area at rest.
  3. Check the dressing is not too tight and is sitting comfortably.
  4. Note when the pain started and what makes it better or worse to report at your next visit.

When to get help: If the pain is severe, sudden, or comes with fever or spreading redness, seek immediate care.

Redness or swellingThe area around my wound looks red or swollen.See what to do
  1. Compare the area to how it looked yesterday.
  2. Keep the wound clean and dry and avoid pressure on it.
  3. Do not apply heat or new creams unless your care team told you to.
  4. Watch for spreading redness, warmth, or new pain and report it.

When to get help: If redness spreads quickly, the area feels hot, or you develop a fever, seek immediate care.

Bad smellMy wound has a strong or unusual odor.See what to do
  1. Change the dressing if it is due, using clean materials.
  2. Note whether the smell is new and whether the drainage has changed color or amount.
  3. Keep the wound clean and dry and avoid covering it with anything not recommended.
  4. Report a new or strong odor to your care team — it can be an early sign of infection.

When to get help: If the odor comes with fever, increasing pain, or spreading redness, seek immediate care.

More dischargeThere is more fluid or discharge than usual.See what to do
  1. Change the dressing if it is saturated, using clean materials.
  2. Note the color, amount, and any change in smell of the fluid.
  3. Keep the surrounding skin clean and dry to protect it.
  4. Report a sudden increase in discharge to your care team.

When to get help: If discharge increases rapidly or becomes thick, cloudy, or foul-smelling, seek immediate care.

Dressing issuesMy dressing came off, is too tight, or is dirty.See what to do
  1. Wash your hands before touching the wound or dressing.
  2. Replace a dirty or loose dressing using the clean materials provided.
  3. If it is too tight, loosen or replace it so it is comfortable and not cutting in.
  4. If you cannot re-dress it safely, cover the wound with a clean dressing and contact your care team.

When to get help: If the wound is exposed, bleeding, or you cannot cover it safely, seek immediate care.