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How can you care for a gunshot wound?
- Follow your doctor's instructions for how to care for your wound. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
- Wash the wound with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
- You may cover the wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage.
- Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
- Keep the wound dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. Pat the wound dry.
- Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
- If you have stitches, your doctor will tell you when to come back to have them removed.
- If you have strips of tape on the cut (incision) the doctor made, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
- If you can, prop up the injured area on a pillow anytime you sit or lie down during the next 3 days. Try to keep it above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling.
Caring for your feelings about the shooting
- Ask your doctor for help if you find that you are thinking a lot about what happened, avoiding reminders about the shooting, or thinking negative thoughts about yourself and the world. No matter how the shooting happened, it can be traumatic. Counseling or some other kind of treatment can help you feel more in control of your emotions, have fewer symptoms, and enjoy life again.
Gunshot wound: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have new or worse pain.
- The skin near the wound is cold or pale or changes color.
- You have tingling, weakness, or numbness near the wound.
- The wound starts to bleed, and blood soaks through the bandage. Oozing small amounts of blood is normal.
- You have symptoms of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the area.
- Pus draining from the area.
- A fever.
- You have trouble breathing.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You do not get better as expected.
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The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.