How can I care for a wound that will be immersed in water?
I got a fairly bad cut on my leg, not quite bad enough for stitches but will probably leave a scar. I have a camping trip planned this weekend at a lake where we will go swimming and kayaking. I expect the cut to be partially healed by then, but not to the point where I feel safe leaving it exposed. (I'm also a little nervous given a couple recent news reports about "flesh-eating bacteria", even though I know it's rare, and the incidents didn't happen near where we'll be!).
At home I have been wearing a fabric bandage, which allows air flow but only keeps it safe from "dry" contaminants. I did read How should you treat an open wound in the backcountry?, but it's about immediate first aid treatment for when the wound happens in the wild, and doesn't discuss what to do about water.
What precautions should I take to protect the wound before, during, and after going into lake water? What first-aid items should I pack?
Of course, simply not swimming and kayaking is an option for this situation (although it would be a bummer), but this could also be a concern if you got a cut on a canoeing trip or a hike with water crossings.
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I've had this happen on trips a lot. (You take 20 teenage males into the bush...)
There aren't that many pathogens that thrive on people. Your biggest problem is not the lake, but the sleeping bag.
During the day, leave it open to the air. Wear shorts. Cover it only if it's going to be constantly getting dirt on it. When you can keep it open, keep a film of polysporin on it. Reapply 3-4 times a day as needed.
On the lake shore, expose to sun, unless you are at risk for sunburn. If you have reason to think that the lake has pathogens in it get someone to stretch the skin moderately tight, and apply a bead of crazy glue to the wound. Hold the skin stretched until the glue sets. This keeps the glue from tearing as you use your leg. while this keeps germs out, it also keeps out oxygen.
At night reapply polysporin, and put a gauze bandage on it. Wrap with 2-3 turns of vet wrap.
If it scabs over well, then just inspect it.
You may need to cover it again when it begins to itch. Try not to scratch it with the same fingernails that have been scratching your bum.
Vet wrap is a sticky stretchy wrap. It sticks well to itself. You can also buy it as sports wrap at several times the price. Available at farm supply stores in a bunch of different colours.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/17084. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Water tight is subject to lots of variable. As you mention just staying out of the water is the least risk.
There are Waterproof Transparent Dressings, a good example is Nexcare™ Tegaderm™ Waterproof Transparent Dressing It lists among its attributes "Seals out water, dirt and germs to help prevent infection"
I have seen this stuff in use, it can stay in place for up to a week, and is not easy to remove. If there are hairs growing in the area, it may compromise the seal and make removal painful.
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