Preventing wound contamination with poor hygiene
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
With limited access to water and soap, creative alternatives can help keep wounds clean.
What to do
• Rinse wounds with the cleanest liquid available — boiled water takes priority
• Use clean clothing as a dressing
• Keep wounds covered to prevent contamination
• Change dressings as often as is practical
• Wash your hands as well as you can before and after wound care
Do not do
• Do not put mud or moss on wounds — this increases the risk of infection
• Do not leave open wounds uncovered in a dirty environment
Warning signs
• The wound shows signs of infection: warmth, swelling, pus
• The person develops a fever after being injured
Get help if
• The wound shows signs of infection and no antibiotics are available
• Tetanus risk: a deep wound from a rusty object, or an animal or human bite
Why this matters
In a crisis, wound infection is the most preventable cause of death. Basic care with whatever is available makes a big difference.
Source: WHO Field Wound Care · reviewed 2025-01-01