What is the physiological effect of moist heat on the treated area?

Choice A rationale
Preparing a discard bag next to the wound is a practical step in the process, but it is not the most critical action to prevent infection.

Choice B rationale
Remaining very still during the procedure is important, but it does not directly relate to maintaining the sterility of the dressing change.

Choice C rationale
Restraining from moving the patient is not typically necessary unless the patient is at risk of causing harm to themselves or disrupting the procedure.

Choice D rationale
Changing gloves after removing the old dressing is crucial to maintain sterility. The old dressing may be contaminated, and fresh gloves reduce the risk of introducing bacteria to the clean wound.

Choice A rationale
An abrasion occurs when the skin is scraped off, usually due to a surface rubbing or scraping against the skin. It does not involve pooling of blood under the skin but rather an injury to the top layer of the skin.

Choice B rationale
An avulsion is a severe type of wound that occurs when a portion of the skin and sometimes the tissue beneath is partially or completely torn away. It is not characterized by pooling of blood under unbroken skin.

Choice C rationale
A laceration refers to a deep cut or tear in the skin or flesh. Because lacerations imply that the skin is broken and torn, it does not describe the condition where blood pools under unbroken skin.

Choice D rationale
A hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, usually in liquid form within the tissue. This is the correct term for a pooling of blood under unbroken skin, as described in the scenario following the patient’s fall. Hematomas can be caused by injury, such as a fall, that causes blood vessels to break and bleed into the surrounding tissues.