Introduction

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals give the necessary care and treatment to everyone who visits them for their injuries, ailments, and sicknesses. Patients always trust medical practitioners for their healing and good health. On the other hand, doctors and other medical professionals must possess the right supplies regardless of whether they treat minor cuts or complex wounds. By doing so, they always ensure to give the best care to patients.

In this blog post, you will learn the top 15 compulsory wound care supplies to possess by hospitals, clinics, and home care facilities.

1. Gauze Sponges/Rolls

Gauze sponges/rolls refer to clothes and dressings designed via woven cotton fabrics available in diverse shapes and sizes. One can use this wound care equipment according to the location, size, or type of the wound that requires to be dressed. The main role of gauze is to absorb the excess amount of fluid produced from skin damage during injuries. Even though hospitals and home care facilities use both rolls and sponges, gauze rolls are of all-purpose associated with the types of wound care dressing. Also, they are available at affordable rates.

Types of Gauzes

Gauzes are mainly available as

• Gauze sponges
• Gauze rolls
• Gauze pads
• Gauze bandages

Where to use

Common applications of gauze sponges/rolls are-

• On infected wounds
• Wounds, which need extra packing or tight wrapping
• Injuries that need frequent changes in dressings
• Draining injuries or the ones with excessive discharge

2. Medical Tapes

Medical tapes secure and stabilize bandages placed on a particular surgical or wound site. These wound care products are mainly self-adhesive and hypoallergic. Besides, such tapes are available in various types to work well with diverse wounds and injuries often encountered by healthcare professionals.  

Types of Medical Tapes   

Medical tapes are available in the following types-

• Athletic tapes
• Adhesive tapes
• Surgical tapes
• Cloth tapes
• Waterproof tapes

Where to Use Medical Tapes

Medical tapes attach gauze, bandages, and related dressings to your skin across the wounds.

3. Liquid Bandages and Sprays

Liquid bandages and sprays are convenient wound care products to cover your wounds. As these products are resistant to water, they may help active patients.

Types of Liquid Bandages

Liquid bandages or liquid stitches are available as follows-

• Gels and sprays
• Suture replacements

Where to Use

Common applications of liquid bandages include the following-

• To cover small cuts, sores, and abrasions
• To close and protect superficial wounds
• Perfect to cover wounds, where waterproofing is essential

4. Suture Removal Kits

Many times, doctors or surgeons need sutures to remove the wounds once they heal and close. Here comes the role of suture removal kits. These kits contain pre-packaged and sterile tools, like forceps, scissors, and gauze required to remove various sutures safely. Such wound care products are convenient and prevent inadvertent bacterial exposure while healing wounds.  

Types/Components of Suture Removal Kits

Any good quality suture removal kits contain the following equipment-

• Toothed forceps
• Sutures and Suturing scissors
• Needles and needle holders
• Scalpels

Where to Use Suture Removal Kits

Depending on the type of equipment belonging to the suture removal kits, it may perform a specific function as follows-

• To remove excessive debris from the site of wounds
• To prevent infections
• To achieve precise cuts
• To clean cuts
• To prepare the wound site for sealing

5. Staplers and Closures

Staplers and closures not only close wounds but also serve as less painful and more convenient methods to close wounds than stitches.  

Types of Staplers

Staplers and removers for wound care are available under the following categories-

• Single-use staplers for skin
• Reusable staplers for skin
• Clip appliers

Where to Use

Staplers, closures, and removers have the following applications in wound care or after-surgery care-

• To close abdominal and uterus incisions at the time of C-section deliveries
• To connect and reconnect internal organs of an organ system

Medical experts also use staplers and removers frequently for digestive tract surgeries, like intestines, stomach, and esophagus. In each of these surgeries, the doctor removes a portion of such tube-like structures and reconnects the remaining portions.

6. Dressings and Bandages

Dressings and bandages are some of the common wound care supplies available to dress, bandage, or close wounds. These protect your affected area and promote faster and germ-free healing. The best thing about dressings and bandages is that they can treat wounds regardless of their level of seriousness, size, and type.

Types of Dressings and Bandages

Dressings and bandages are available in the market in the following types-

• Basic and transparent bandages
• Medicated bandages
• Hydrogel dressings
• Alginate dressings
• Dry gauze dressings

Where to Use

Both dressings and bandages have the following applications in wound care-

• To cover and protect your wounds
• To control bleeding and avoid further infection
• Place directly on the wounds to absorb pus and fluids

7. Foam Dressings

Foam dressings refer to soft and gentle dressings for wounds consisting of polyurethane foam. Such dressings will retain moisture in the affected or wound area to allow faster healing. Such type of wound care equipment also protects the wound from any harmful bacteria. Furthermore, a foam dressing has a unique design to prevent sticking it to your wound area.

Types of Foam Dressings

Foam dressings are of the following types-

• Foam dressing pads
• Foam dressing sheets
• Foam dressing cavities
• Adhesive foam dressings
• Non-adhesive foam dressings

Where to Use

Foam dressings have the following prime applications

• Minor burns
• Pressure ulcers
• Diabetic ulcers
• Skin grafts

8. Alcohol Pads

Alcohol pads are available as sealed pads used primarily to prepare and clean your skin for an incision or injection. Many wounds need the patient to get a shot or undergo an incision/surgical procedure. Alcohol pads may prevent bacteria from entering your body while lacerating or piercing your skin.

Where to Use

• To clean away dirt, debris, and bacteria from any open wounds
• To use on scrapes, cuts, and abrasions before applying bandages

9. Non-woven Sponges

Non-woven sponges consist of a few tightly pressed polyester or pressed cotton and rayon fibers. These wound care supplies have a relatively higher thickness and are durable as compared to woven sponges. Indeed, these sponges are ideal to protect your wounds.

Types of Non-woven Sponges

You will get non-woven sponges under the following categories/types depending on the area, in which you want to use them-

• Abdominal sponges or pads
• All-purpose sponges
• Cover sponges
• Antimicrobial sponges
• IV and drain sponges

Where to Use

As a high-performance wound care equipment, medical professionals use a nonwoven sponge to perform the following functions-

• To clean and treat open wounds
• To soak up fluids
• To apply pressure on your bleeds

10. Burn Care

As the name itself, burn care products intend to protect and soothe your burns. They may even help you to prevent further burn-related infections.

Types of Burn Care

Depending on the degree/extent, the product is used, medical experts have classified it as follows-

• First-degree burn care, which is useful for the skin's top layer
• Second-degree burn care for both the top and lower layers of the skin
• Third-degree burn care for all three layers of the skin

Where to Use

• To use in skin grafts
• To treat areas of third-degree and deep levels of burns

11. Transparent Films

Transparent film wound care equipment consists of thin films consisting of polymer membranes. Such film dressings are available in diverse thickness variations and contain adhesives on a particular side of the transparent film dressing. The prime function of these dressings is to let doctors check and monitor wounds actively without the exposure of any external element.  

Where to Use

• To monitor the wounds
• To protect against water, fluids, and bacteria from entering the wound/damage
• To use on abrasions and lacerations
• On IV and surgical incision sites

12. Medical Drapes

Medical care professionals must get medical drapes to use as safeguards to avoid infections. Drapes are impermeable and disposable to allow isolating the injured area. Moreover, such wound care supplies avoid bacterial infection in the wound at the time of surgery.

Types of Medical Drapes

Medical drapes are of different types depending on the specific medical sector as follows-

• Incise drapes
• U-drapes
• Fenestrated drapes
• Split drapes
• Orthopedic drapes
• Extremity drapes

Where to Use

Regardless of the type, medical drapes or surgical drapes are useful at the time of surgery to avoid any contact with unprepared surfaces. Simultaneously, they maintain the sterility of medical equipment, environment surfaces, and other surroundings of the patient.

13. Cotton Balls

Cotton balls have frequent applications for sanitizing, cleaning, and prepping various wound sites before applying dressings or bandages. Medical experts also use it as a sterile method to apply ointments and medicines to keep wounds free from bacteria.

Types of Cotton Balls

Medical care experts use two different types of cotton balls, which are as follows-

• Polyester balls
• Rayon balls

Where to Use

Cotton balls have found their multiple applications in the wound care or medical sector. A few such uses are as follows-

• To clean the wounds with iodine or hydrogen peroxide
• Application of topical ointments or antiseptics
• Cleaning of skin irritations and minor cuts
• Stopping blood after blood collection or pushing an injection

14. Cotton Tipped Applicators

Cotton Tipped Applicators are available for several medical applications, collection of samples/specimens, wound treatment, and many more. Such medical swabs are perfect to use in hospitals, clinics, schools, and at home. Such applicators are available in several options, packages, and size configurations.

Types of Cotton-Tipped Applicators

Medical care professionals get cotton-tipped applicators under the following categories-

• Sterile cotton applicators
• Non-sterile applicators

Where to Use

Cotton-tipped applicators have several uses in the medical sector. These include-

• Cleaning of wounds and their surrounding skin
• To swab a wound to get a sample for text
• To identify any infection

Cotton-tipped applicators are also useful in applying ointments or medicines to wounds.  

15. Surgical Mesh

Last in the category of wound care equipment is a surgical mesh, which works well for complex and deep wounds. These meshes may reinforce or repair wounds in bones or tissues.

Types of a Surgical Mesh

Depending on the operational area, a surgical mesh may be of the following types-

• Absorbable mesh
• Non-absorbable mesh
• Hybrid mesh
• Synthetic mesh
• Animal-derived mesh
• Composite mesh
• Coated mesh

Where to Use

Surgical mesh has the following two primary applications in wound care-

• To repair POP or pelvic organ prolapse
• To deal with stress urinary incontinence in women

Conclusion

Overall, wound care is a vital part of any patient care. By maintaining a list of specific wound care products, medical care professionals must always prepare to treat various wounds and injuries. Therefore, with appropriate wound care at the right time, patients will get the best treatments and expect faster recovery.