Which practice is discouraged when dressing a wound in the field?

• A. Irrigate with clean water to remove debris; gently clean surrounding skin; apply sterile dressing; evac if needed.
• B. Apply alcohol to open wounds.
• C. Cover the wound with a clean, dry cloth.
• D. Wash hands before dressing.

Answer: (B)

Applying alcohol to an open wound is discouraged because it damages healthy tissue at the wound surface, causing burning pain and delaying healing. In field care, you want to minimize irritation to support natural healing, so cleansing with clean water (or saline) to remove debris, gently cleaning around the wound, and then covering with a sterile dressing is preferred. Washing hands before dressing helps reduce infection risk, and keeping the wound covered with a clean, dry cloth protects it while evacuation is arranged if needed. Harsh chemicals on the wound bed, like alcohol, hinder healing and are not recommended.