How to create a home wound care kit: step-by-step guide
Different wounds require different treatment. This guide will help you choose the right products for your household and provide tips on storage and safety.
1. Start with hand hygiene
Before and after wound care, wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser. Towels for drying hands should be freshly cleaned. Keep a clean workspace with no pets around.7
2. The right tools for the job
Only use your wound care tools for wound care so they are not lost, dirty or blunt when you need them.7
- Small stainless-steel scissors with blunt points to cut bandages, dressings and tapes.
- Stainless steel tweezers or forceps to remove foreign objects or unhealthy tissue.
- Use an alcohol wipe to clean scissors or forceps before and after use. Let them air dry, then store them in a plastic zip-lock bag.7
- Sterile dressing packs are convenient, inexpensive and increase safety.
- Disposable gloves can protect hands from exudate. Never reuse or wash gloves. Hands must be washed before and after wearing gloves.3 If you can’t use gloves, a no-touch technique is crucial.8
3. Keep it clean
- Use pain relief 30 minutes before wound care if needed.4
- Change dressings as directed or when they are wet, dirty, loose.7
- Clean the wound every time the dressing is changed.4
- Use sterile gauze squares soaked in wound cleansing solution or normal saline to gently wipe the wound and surrounding skin, beginning at the centre and working outwards. Repeat 2-3 times using a new gauze each time, then dry with new gauze.4
- Instead of large bottles, keep small tubes of cleaning solution – they will remain sterile until opened and reduce wastage.
- A sterile syringe (35ml) can be useful to rinse away visible dirt or debris.4
4. Protect the skin
Adhesives often injure skin through sensitivity, allergy or traumatic removal of dressings or tapes. Avoid applying tape directly to the skin if possible and always use a skin-friendly adhesive remover to remove sticky products.5
Moisture associated skin damage (MASD) is caused by high levels of exudate or barrier creams that interfere with dressing absorption.6
After cleansing and drying, protect the surrounding skin with a skin barrier wipe and let it dry before applying a dressing.5
5. Dress it up right
Keep dressings that are suitable for various types of wounds. Considering wound size, location, and amount of exudate will help you select the right dressing. Always check the product information before use, as dressings may contain allergens. The following dressings are versatile and generally safe for most people2:
- Adhesive sheets that absorb moisture, forming a healing gel
- Conform to body shape
- Repel water
- Protect against environmental contaminants
- Can be cut to fit
- Easy to use
- Ideal for superficial wounds with minimal exudate
- Not suitable for deep or infected wounds
Island dressings
- Central non-stick pads with adhesive edges
- The outer layer may be cloth or waterproof transparent film
- Suitable for wounds with low amounts of exudate
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Many shapes or sizes
Foam dressings
- Conforms to body contours
- Many shapes or sizes, with or without adhesive edges
- Some have a waterproof outer layer
- Some contain ingredients to manage pain or infection
- Absorbent
- Suitable for wounds with moderate to high amounts of exudate
- Many incorporate a silicone contact layer, which is a safer choice for fragile or sensitive skin
- Can be cut to fit if there is no waterproof layer or adhesive edges, but will need a bandage to hold it in place
Gelling fibre dressings
- Very absorbent sheets or packing ribbon
- Fibres become a firm gel when in contact with wound fluid, so they can be removed easily
- Suitable for wounds with infection and higher levels of exudate
- Flexible and can be cut to fit
- Secondary dressing is required
Absorbent dressing pads
- Wick away and contain moisture
- Many sizes and degrees of absorbency
- Some have adhesive edges, while others need to be secured with a bandage
- Pads often stick to the wound and should be used as a secondary dressing
- Some have a silicone contact layer to reduce sticking to the wound
- Can be useful in first-aid situations when applying pressure to stem the bleeding
Contact layers
- Thin sheets of silicone or gauze containing active ingredients
- Stops outer dressings from sticking to the wound
- Can be cut to fit
- Requires a secondary dressing
- Gauze may include moisturising or antimicrobial ingredients
- Silicone layers are transparent so the wound can be seen without taking off the dressing
- With no added ingredients, silicone layers have less risk of allergic reaction
- Suitable for wounds with little or no exudate
6. Seal the deal
To hold dressings in place and keep out external contaminants, you will need to “seal” the wound. It is vital that bandages are free of creases or rolled edges and not too tight. Avoid using tapes directly on the skin as they may cause irritation and injury on removal.5
- Can be made of paper, fabric or plastic
- Safest way to secure a bandage (clips and pins can cause injuries)
Crepe bandages
- Light, soft and flexible – ideal for securing dressings comfortably
- High elasticity reduces the risk of overly tight application5
Adhesive/cohesive bandages
- Stick to themselves when applied
- Less stretchy but increases the risk of being too tight
- Used to support strains and sprains or manage circulation issues in limbs
Tubular bandages
- Easy to use
- Can be purchased as rolls and cut to the required length
- Many sizes are available
- Two thicknesses available but only use the lightweight type to secure dressings
7. Keep tracking
Mobile phone cameras are a convenient way to record wound progress. Collect more reliable data by including measurements. Single-use sterile wound measurement tools are available, but a plastic ruler can illustrate wound length and width. Ensure the ruler is cleaned with an alcohol wipe and placed 3-4 cm away from the wound edge.4
8. Get it together
- Keep supplies in a waterproof bag or box and store it in a cool dry environment with easy access.
- Keep your wound care kit out of children’s reach.
- Return leftover dressings to their original packaging and seal them a zip-lock bag so you can see the product name and expiry date.7
- Discard expired items and restock your kit after use
9. When to see a healthcare professional
People who are prone to infection, e.g. diabetes, circulation issues or low immunity, can benefit from seeing a professional straight away.2
With all wounds, if you notice any of the following signs, seek professional advice promptly:4
- Redness, warmth, swelling, or pus around the wound
- Fever or chills
- Wound not healing or getting larger
- New or increasing pain
- Foul smell from the wound
FAQs
What is exudate?
Any liquid that comes from a wound: pus, blood, water or any combination of these.2
Should I change wound dressings every day?
No, this disrupts wound healing and increases costs. Modern dressings are designed to stay on for longer. Change them as directed or if they are wet, dirty or loose.7
Should I let the wound dry out?
No, a moist healing environment is best, and dressings are designed for this purpose. Leaving the wound open also allows contaminants to get in.2
Can I use vinegar to clean the wound?
Generally, no. Vinegar is antimicrobial, but even a low strength solution kills healthy cells, too. It is not sterile, must be heavily diluted with water, and getting the mix right is problematic.4Peroxide, alcohol, soap and iodine are not recommended either.7
Should I use cream on the wound?
Not unless it is recommended or prescribed by a professional to treat infection or dermatitis. Creams can stop adhesive dressings from sticking and interfere with the wounds’ moisture balance.5
References
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). (15 November, 2024). Injury in Australia. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/injury-in-australia/contents/summary
2. Carville, K. (2023). Wound care manual (8th). Silverchain Foundation.
3. Hand Hygiene Australia. (n.d.). Appropriate glove use. https://hha.org.au/hand-hygiene/what-is-hand-hygiene/glove-use
4. International Wound Infection Institute (IWII). (2022). Wound infection in clinical practice: Principles of best practice. Wounds International. https://woundinfection-institute.com/wp-content/uploads/IWII-CD-2022-web-1.pdf)
5. LeBlanc, K., Beeckman, D., Campbell, K. et al. (2021). Best practice recommendations for prevention and management of periwound complications. Wounds International. https://woundsinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/8b3aa61f0bdf1c66eb79d28c18ecd0d2.pdf
6. Merton Borough Care Home Pharmacists. (2022). Barrier products for use in adults in primary care for the prevention of moisture associated skin damage. South West London Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS. https://swlimo.southwestlondon.icb.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SWL-Barrier-Products-Factsheet-Final-31.03.2022-2.pdf
7. Wounds Australia. (n.d). Factsheet 5: Chronic wound self-care. (Retrieved April 20, 2025) https://woundsaustralia.org/?code=&action=printsnippet&snippet=pg_152&printtemplate=on&builder=on&menuItem=Factsheet+5&
8. Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN).(2012). Clean vs. sterile dressing technique for management of chronic wounds: A fact sheet. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 39(2S), S30-S34.
Tracey Aldis
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Tracey is a Clinical Nurse Consultant with over 30 years of experience. She has completed a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) and holds advanced qualifications in palliative care, chronic disease management, stomal therapy, continence, and wound management. Tracey is passionate about empowering individuals on their health journeys through holistic support and education and is also certified as a trainer and assessor.