First aid: infections

TW: brief mention of alcohol and eating disorders
Skip to end of post for info on how to identify and treat an infection.

Preventing infections

Infections can be dangerous, they can cause serious illness, disability, and sometimes death. The best way to avoid harm is to do your best to prevent an infection from happening.

Some ways to decrease risk of infection are...

• Being up to date on your vaccinations, especially your tetanus vaccination
• Using clean tools (i.e. blades) when you self-harm and, if possible not reusing tools. Never sharing tools
• If you reuse tools, clean them in between use by:
  • Boiling them in water (~15 minutes), remember to dry well
  • Soak them in something with a high alcohol contents (i.e. isopropyl/rubbing alcohol, hard liquor, hand sanitiser), remember to dry well
• Check your tools for rust, dirt, or cracking before use. Dispose if any found
• Store tools in a clean, dry place; do not use something to self-harm if it was or could have been in an unclean place
• Clean your hands before self-harming
• Keep cuts, burns, and other open wounds covered with wound dressings. Changes dressings daily
• Having a healthy diet, Malnourishment increases your risk of getting an infection and slows healing. This is especially important to remember if you have an eating disorder

Certain things can put a person at a higher risk of infection then others, such as...

• Being immunocompromised
• Taking immunosuppressant medications
• Being malnourished/having an eating disorder
• Being diabetic
• Having limited mobility
• Not having access to wound dressings, clean water, etc.

Identifying an infection

Seek emergency medical attention or call an ambulance immediately if you show symptoms of a serious infection, such as...

• Confusion or disorientation
• Feeling faint, dizzy, or fainting
• Irregular heartbeat and/or breathing
• Cold, clammy, pale skin
• Fever (body temperature of 38c (100.4 f) or higher)
• A red line coming from the wound
• Severe muscle pain
• Painful muscle spasms
• This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms, more info here.

A serious infection can be deadly and cause permanent disability, DO NOT attempt to care for at home. If you are unsure how serious an injury is, call your local A&E's nurse line (if in the UK call 111 or use 111 online)

Mild infections can often be treated at home. Symptoms of mild infection include...

• Spreading redness, heat, or swelling near the wound
• Increased or new pain
• Increased fluid leaking from wound
• Smell
• Slow healing

Some redness, pain, and fluid leakage can be normal. If you have a medical condition or take a medication (i.e. immunosuppressants) that puts you at higher risk of complication or if you are unsure if you are able to treat your wound, seek medical advice. If you are unsure how serious an injury is, call your local A&E's nurse line (if in the UK call 111 or use 111 online).

Treating a (mild) infection

Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you experience any symptoms of serious infection (see above). A serious infection can be deadly and cause permanent disability, DO NOT attempt to care for at home.
Even if you only have a mild infection, it is suggested that you see a doctor.

A mild infection can be treated by...

1. Cleaning the wound with warm water and unscented anti-bacterial soap
2. Soak in warm water or apply a warm wet cloth for ten minutes
3. Apply antibiotic ointment to the infected wound(s)
4. Re-dress the wound. Do not reuse dressings.

Repeat this 3 times a day daily until infection subsides. If the infection worsens or does not go away seek medical attention.