Basic Wound Care and Suture Skills Course

This one day course is designed for the advanced wilderness first aid provider, EMT-B, Paramedic, PA, RN, or MD, that may have to provide out-of- hospital care in austere environments with the possibility of having no other medical care for extended periods of time. The course examines basic wound management and closure methods including suture skills.

Treatment of wounds is a vital skill in the treatment of patients in austere environments. The aim of this class is to allow the health care provider to gain familiarity and comfort with assessment and treatment of basic wounds. After this course the student will be comfortable and confident in initial wound assessment and examination, wound cleaning and debridement, selection of proper closure techniques, antibiotic selections, follow-up care and patient education. In addition, suture skills will be practiced allowing the participants to select the proper suture technique for the wounds they will be commonly be presented with in an austere environment. The suture skills workshop will make use of animal tissue and allow participants to gain exposure to irrigation, wound cleaning, anesthesia techniques and several methods of wound closure.

You will learn the following:

• Focused History taking
• Initial focused physical exam
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Treatment of clean versus dirty wounds
• Basic Anesthesia
  • Topical
  • Local
  • Infiltration techniques
• Debridement of wounds
  • Irrigation techniques
  • Irrigation materials and solutions
  • Undermining wound edges
  • Devitalization of tissues
• Wound closure methods
  • Simple sutures
  • Staples
  • Octylcyanoacrylate “glue”
  • Tape closure
• Selecting appropriate materials
  • Surgical instruments
  • Types of suture materials
• Suture Skills
  • Sterile field
  • Instrument ties
  • Two-hand tie
  • Simple interrupted
  • Vertical mattress
  • Horizontal mattress
  • Continuous running sutures
  • Improvisational techniques
• When to close a wound and when not to
• Antibiotic and tetanus prophylaxis
• Post-closure wound care for remote settings
• How to educate your patient
• Suture and staple removal

Cost: $275.00 with materials included

Schedule:

Didactic: 4 hours

Skills workshop: 4 hours

Equipment: Provided with course

Participants will be able to keep basic suturing materials and tools including needle driver, scissors, hemostat and forceps. This will allow students to continue to practice their skills after the course has completed.