First Aid for Human Bites

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

What is to be done to provide first aid for a person who received a bite from a human being? And, is there a difference between how it is treated if the skin is broken and if it is not broken?

Thanks!

[TazziRN, RN]

First aid for ANY bite is soap and water, lots of it. If the skin is broken it's almost gauranteed that a script for ABX will be given.

[northshore08]

Okay, here goes. No broken skin, treat as a bruise/contusion. Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE) unless severe, then seek MD eval. But a human bite with broken skin is another story.

Human bites inflict the nastiest of infections. Apply pressure to stop bleeding. Go to nearest urgent care/ED for MD eval, cleaning/suturing and antibiotics. Even if the wound is relatively minor, you will need antibiotics. You have a very high probability of getting infected.

If you are alone on a desert island and the only other person has bit you and you cannot get to a doctor, then stop the bleeding, scrub the area VERY WELL with soap and water and flush with copious amounts of clean water. Wrap it up and clean it again every day, and apply fresh bandages every day. Watch it for signs of infection, like spreading redness with tenderness (especially if the redness is streaking up the arm or leg,) or fever/chills. If that happens, start waving at the nearest planes or ships, because you need antibiotics.

[catlynLPN]

We deal with human bites in my facility just about everyday. I work with the MR.

Our first aid is wash well with soap and water, keep it clean, apply TAO, and check to see if the person's TT is up to date, if not, we get an order and get that updated.

Then watch for infection and see the doctor if it becomes necessary, which usually, it is not necessary for them to see the doctor if the things I mentioned are done.

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

Remember that an abrasion from teeth is pretty much the same as a bite, with the same treatment.