Which statement best describes how wounds are classified and the initial dressing?

• A. Deep wounds involve epidermis only; clean with saline; apply sterile dressing
• B. Superficial wounds involve epidermis only; deep wounds involve dermis or deeper; clean with saline, apply sterile dressing; monitor for infection
• C. Superficial wounds involve epidermis and dermis; deep wounds involve muscle; clean with saline only
• D. Deep wounds require heat application

Answer: (B)

Classifying wounds by depth is key: superficial wounds involve only the epidermis, while deep wounds extend into the dermis or deeper structures. The initial management should be gentle cleaning with sterile saline to reduce contamination, then covering with a sterile dressing to protect the wound and prevent infection. It’s also important to monitor for infection after the dressing is applied.

Why this fits best: it correctly defines the depth categories and combines them with the standard initial care—cleaning with saline and applying a sterile dressing—plus the need to watch for infection. The other statements misstate which layers are involved in deep versus superficial wounds, or suggest inappropriate steps like using heat in the acute phase.