The Upcoming Season of Exposure, Beware of Skin Wounds!

If Heat-Exposed Skin or Wounds Are Left Untreated, There Is a Risk of Infection and Other Complications, Requiring Prompt Care

When a wound occurs, appropriate first aid should be administered, and if severe, medical treatment should be sought at a healthcare facility. [Image source=Clipart Korea]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average spring temperature from March to May this year was the highest on record. The summer, which started early in June, is expected to have a shorter monsoon period than last year but higher temperatures than usual, resulting in prolonged hot weather.

From the end of May, daytime high temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius have continued, naturally leading to lighter and shorter clothing with increased skin exposure.

After outdoor activities decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, travel demand has surged following the lifting of social distancing measures, causing a rapid increase in people wearing revealing clothes to cope with the summer heat while traveling.

Nowadays, clothes are often considered just fashion items to express oneself, but in fact, clothing functions to protect our bodies from external elements.

Especially when wearing short sleeves or shorts while hiking, one can get injured by tree branches or fall, causing skin damage. When wearing swimsuits and visiting the sea, there is a risk of wounds from seashells or stones, and the seawater can contaminate these wounds.

Wounds on the skin can be classified into abrasions caused by friction on the skin surface, contusions caused by external impact over a wide area, incised wounds caused by sharp objects like knives or glass cutting the skin, puncture wounds caused by sharp objects piercing the skin, and lacerations caused by external stimuli tearing the skin.

Besides the aforementioned cases, wounds can occur due to various causes, often resulting in partial loss of skin. Without proper care, infections can develop, and in severe cases, abscesses and shock symptoms may occur at the wound site, requiring emergency surgery or posing a threat to life, so appropriate and immediate response is necessary.

If bleeding occurs, to prevent infection, avoid touching the wound with bare hands, and use a clean cloth or gauze to completely cover the wound while applying pressure with fingers or similar.

If severe bleeding occurs on the arms or legs, maintain pressure and keep the wound elevated above the heart level. If there is eye injury or foreign objects visible in the wound, avoid applying pressure as it may cause secondary damage.

Once bleeding is somewhat controlled, rinse the wound with running water to minimize contaminants. Avoid soaking the wound in stagnant water or sucking the blood with your mouth, as these actions increase the risk of infection.

Dr. Seongho Shin, Head of the Regional Emergency Medical Center at Daedong Hospital (Emergency Medicine Specialist), advises, “Applying powder-type medications, unnecessary ointments, or folk remedies such as soju or doenjang (fermented soybean paste) on wounds can interfere with wound exudate and removal of contaminants, potentially causing other problems, so unverified folk remedies should be avoided. Even if proper first aid is given, if the wound is severe or exposed to contaminated substances, immediate medical treatment is necessary to prevent scarring and tetanus.”

If bleeding does not stop after about 10 minutes of pressure, or if the wound is on a bending area such as the elbow or knee, suspected to involve muscle or bone, deep and large wounds, deeply embedded foreign objects, wounds likely to cause scarring, or injuries to the eyelids or lips, hospital treatment may be required. Visit the nearest medical facility, and if blood spurts out, it may indicate arterial bleeding, so immediately call 119 for assistance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.