Surgery  >  Changing a Gauze Dressing

Safety Tips

  • Prevent infection by thorough handwashing. When caring for a wound, your biggest risk is spreading germs from the person’s wound to your hands. If you then place your hands on any open area on your skin, such as a cut or scrape, you could get an infection. Wash Your Hands before and after changing a dressing.
  • Be sure the person you provide care for is not allergic or sensitive to:
    • antiseptic solution used to clean the wound
    • the tape placed over the dressing
    • the rubber (latex) gloves
  • If you or the person you provide care for is allergic to latex, wear latex-free gloves.
  • Removal of tape can cause a skin burn in a person with fragile skin. If the person has fragile skin, use paper tape or try a Montgomery tie.