For Wound Awareness Week, our Registered Nurse and KC Skills Centre Clinical Coordinator, Hannah, is taking over! Wound care is a topic she’s particularly passionate about and doesn’t shy away from.
She’s here to tell you a bit more about chronic wounds and what warning signs to look out for if you have a wound.
Every year, Wound Australia raise awareness for people with chronic wounds with their annual event, Wound Awareness Week.
Their goal is to support our fellow Australians who are currently living with chronic wounds. Did you know that 450,000+ Australians currently living with chronic wounds? Chronic wounds are Australia’s hidden epidemic, costing our health and aged care budgets more than $6 billion annually. We call it a “hidden” epidemic as it is a severely undereducated topic that is not talked about.
This year’s theme is “Getting wound care right”. What does this mean?
Ensuring people who have a chronic wound, or any wound for that matter, receive the following:
- The RIGHT diagnosis
- The RIGHT treatment
- The RIGHT time
If we consider the above, many more wounds can be healed, and at a faster rate. It is about awareness and, as always, knowing the signs.
When should I start worrying about a wound?
Understanding the wound warning signs can help you determine when to seek help and stop an acute wound from becoming a chronic wound. If you have a wound and notice any of the following signs, it’s time to seek professional help to ensure you receive the RIGHT diagnosis and the RIGHT treatment at the RIGHT time.
- Pain and heat: Is your wound red, hot, swollen and painful?
- Odour: Does the wound have a strange or unpleasant smell?
- Excessive fluid: Is your wound oozing a thick, yellowish fluid?
- Slow healing: Is your month taking more than a month to heal?
It is also about knowing the risks, including age, health and medical conditions (such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, renal disease and lymphedema), and pressure injuries.
If you’re living with a wound or caring for someone who does, you can find a range of informative factsheets on Wound Aware’s website. They’ve been compiled by experts at Wounds Australia alongside their valued partners, so you know you’re getting the best professional information.
So, how can we help?
- Education! Educating ourselves, carers, and family is important to support one another and raise awareness around wounds.
- Nutrition and Hydration: Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can improve one’s skin integrity immensely.
- Exercise: Get the blood circulating and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in the process.
So, how can we show our support for our chronic wound sufferers?
- Spread the word
- Host a Big Oozie Bake Off morning tea
Let’s fight this war on wounds together.
If you or someone you care for is living with a wound, our KompleteCare nurses can help you. Often, making or getting out to an appointment to see a nurse can prove difficult for the elderly or people managing a disability. Whatever the case, our KompleteCare nursing staff are available to care for you in the comforts of your home, including wound management. Our Nursing Services include wound management, medication administration, palliative care, specialised services (PEG feeding, stoma care, etc.), and therapeutic rehabilitation support. If you want to learn more, call our head office on (08) 8265 5696.
