Treatment of wounds

TREATMENT OF WOUNDS

32. A superficial wound should be cleansed using nylon (non-absorbent) swabs, or else by iodine etc poured on to the wound and then wiped off with a dry swab or gauze. If however there is a suspicion that the wound is infected it should be cleansed in the usual way (if non-absorbent swabs are not available)[57].

33. A bleeding wound (including gums) may not be sucked on the Sabbath. (Blood that is outside a wound may not be sucked even on a weekday)[58].

34. A bleeding wound should be bandaged only after it has been washed. Continuous bleeding should be stopped by pressure on the wound using clean cloth or gauze, and then covered with a band-aid (sticking plaster) or bandage without ointment[59].

35. One may express ointment from a tube directly on to a wound, or apply it with a spatula if the wound is infected or painful. Gauze or a bandage may then be put on the wound even if it would then be automatically spread. However one should be careful not to actively spread the ointment on to the wound. On the other hand, a liquid or cream preparation, that is completely absorbed into the body (as opposed to an ointment that remains on the skin surface), may be used in the normal way on the Sabbath for this purpose, even if the patient is not seriously ill[60].

36. A patient who has a bandage or band-aid (sticking plaster) applied to his hand and finds it difficult to wash his hands before eating bread without wetting the bandage or band-aid (sticking plaster)[61], should wear a glove over the hand, wash the other hand only[62] and pronounce the appropriate blessing[63]. The glove should remain on during the entire meal[64].

37. One may bandage a wound – or change the bandage – on the Sabbath without using an ointment (except as in paragraph 35)[65]. The bandage should be secured with a single knot and bow, safety pins or special clips, but adhesive tape should not be used for this purpose[66]. A bandage should not be cut to length, nor should it be split lengthwise in order to tie the ends together[67].

38. One may apply a band-aid (sticking plaster) on the Sabbath, but the protective paper covering the two adhesive tabs should preferably be removed and then immediately replaced before the Sabbath. It may then be removed again before use on the Sabbath[68]. Failing this, it may, if necessary, be removed on the Sabbath[69].

39. A plaster may be used to bring together the two ends of a cut or wound[70].

40. Where possible a nose bleed should be stopped by external pressure. If this is unsuccessful, a clean piece of cloth may be stuffed into the nostril until professional help is obtained[71].

41. A bedridden patient who may develop pressure sores if not given preventive treatment, and certainly one who already has such sores, is a seriously ill patient and cream or, if necessary, even ointment should be applied[72].

42. A bedridden patient who has or who may develop pressure sores may be put on a air-mattress which has to be electrically activated on the Sabbath[73].

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[57] See Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:2.

[58] Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:14.

[59] See Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:18 and 35:20.

[60] Oral communication from R. Sh.Z. Auerbach. See note 72 below.

[61] See Orach Chayyim 162:10.

[62] Mishnah Berurah 162:69.

[63] Oral communication from R. Sh.Z. Auerbach.

[64] Oral communicaiton from R. Y.Y. Neuwirth. See Nishmat Avraham Pt. 4, Orach Chayyim 161:1 (page 6).

[65] Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:20.

[66] Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:22-28.

[67] Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:21. According to an oral communication from R. Y.Y. Neuwirth, this is permitted in pressing circumstances.

[68] Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:26. See Nishmat Avraham Pt. 1, Orach Chayyim 328:62 (end) and notes 545-546 (page 204). See Resp. Or le-Tsiyyon Pt. 2, 36:15, which is permissive.

[69] Oral communication from R. Sh.Z. Auerbach.

[70] Oral communication from R. Sh.Z. Auerbach. See Nishmat Avraham Pt. 5, Orach Chayyim 340:2. See what I wrote in the name of R. Sh.Z. Auerbach and R. Y.Sh. Eliashiv in Nishmat Avraham Pt. 4, 340:12 (pages 60-62).

[71] Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 35:15.

[72] Even if at the moment there is no danger, because applying a cream which melts and is completely absorbed in the body is not prohibited. Applying a cream is prohibited only if one smoothes some cream remaining on the surface of the skin; Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 33, middle of note 54 in the name of R. Sh.Z. Auerbach.

[73] Oral communication from R. Y.Y. Neuwirth.