It's best to change the dressing on a daily basis, and whenever the wound bleeds or oozes through. This prevents the wound from drying out and can help prevent scaring.Ĭommon dressings include bandages (for smaller wounds) or gauze pads and tape (for larger wounds).
While some people decide to leave the area uncovered if the wound doesn't touch their clothes, you can help prevent infection by applying a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and covering the wound. Apply more layers if the wound bleeds through the gauze, and don't remove the gauze to look at the wound-this can reopen the scab. If this hasn't happened after a couple days, apply sterile gauze to the area and apply even, consistent pressure. Most road rashes stop bleeding and scab up on their own after a while. Once home, thoroughly wash your hands and use soap to gently wash the wound.ĭespite contrary belief, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol is not needed to clean a wound it can actually irritate the tissue. It's likely you're in a remote area without support (or have to wait some time for someone to pick you up), so immediately spray your wounds with clean water from your water bottle to remove dirt and debris. If you're unsure and the bleeding won't stop, it's always best to err on the side of caution and have a doctor check it out. If the wounds look like they're just on the surface of your skin, you can address the issue yourself (heading to the ER for scrapes and road rash can be expensive) using the steps outlined below. If the cuts or scrapes are more than a quarter-inch deep and you can see fat, muscle or bone, head directly to the ER or urgent care for staples or stitches.