Question

While wrapping Paula’s ankle with an elastic bandage, you notice a puncture wound on the bottom of her foot. Paula tells you she thinks she may have stepped on a nail the day before, but did not get it treated. Paula can’t remember when her last tetanus shot was, so the doctor wants to give her a booster to be on the safe side. The booster comes in a 7.5 mL vial that contains 15 doses. How many mL is one dose? Explain your calculations.

Answer 1

A puncture wound, such as from stepping on a nail, doesn't usually cause much bleeding. But these wounds are often deep and can be dangerous because of the risk of infection.

To take care of a puncture wound:

Wash your hands. This helps prevent infection.

Stop the bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or cloth.

Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with clear water for 5 to 10 minutes. If dirt or debris remains in the wound, use a washcloth to gently scrub it off. See a doctor if you can't remove all of the dirt or debris.

Apply an antibiotic. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment (Neosporin, Polysporin). For the first two days, rewash the area and reapply the antibiotic when you change the dressing.Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the product and seek medical care.

Cover the wound. Bandages help keep the wound clean.

Change the dressing. Do this daily or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty.

Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if the wound isn't healing or you notice any increasing pain, pus, swelling or fever. On light skin, spreading redness is a sign of infection. On dark skin, redness may not be apparent, or the infection's streaks may look purplish-gray or darker than your normal skin.

Seek prompt medical care

Get immediate medical help if the wound:

Keeps bleeding after a few minutes of direct pressure

Is the result of an animal or human bite

Is deep and dirty

Is caused by a metal object

Is deep and to the head, neck, scrotum, chest or abdomen

Is over a joint and could be deep

If the injured person hasn't had a tetanus shot in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty, your doctor may recommend a booster. The injured person should have the booster shot within 48 hours of the injury.

If the wound was caused by a cat or a dog, try to confirm that its rabies vaccination is up to date. If it was caused by a wild animal, seek advice from your doctor about which animals are most likely to carry rabies.

Step-by-step explanation: