National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Management of Acute Skin Trauma

This statement gives athletic trainers recommendations for cleaning, debriding, dressing and monitoring acute skin wounds such as abrasions, lacerations, blisters and punctures, aiming to replace habit-based practice with evidence.

Wounds should be cleaned thoroughly as soon as possible, then only when needed. Irrigation with normal saline or drinkable tap water is preferred, at moderate pressure, while scrubbing the wound bed and harsh chemical agents are discouraged because they can damage healing tissue. Dead tissue should be removed before dressing, favoring gentle methods; wet-to-dry dressings are discouraged.

After cleaning, the wound should stay covered with a dressing suited to it until healed. Staff should watch for signs of infection and adverse reactions to dressings, consider health factors such as diabetes or smoking that slow healing, and avoid routine oral antibiotics unless a wound is heavily contaminated. The statement also lists supplies for athletic training rooms and kits.