Cuts And Scrapes: First Aid

By Matt Unangst, 11 Feb 18:34

Minor cuts and scrapes are probably the most common type of injury, especially among small children. They don’t normally cause any complications, but you should care for any minor cuts and scrapes in order to prevent infection and other problems.

Begin by stopping the bleeding. If the cut or scrape in minor, it will normally stop bleeding without any conscious action on your part, but if it doesn’t, use a clean cloth or bandage to place gentle pressure on the wound. Keep the pressure on for at least 20 minutes to make sure the bleeding has stopped. Resist the urge to check the wound every few minutes since this may damage any clot that has begun to form, putting you back at square one in your wound care. If your wound is spouting blood or you cannot get it to stop bleeding, get emergency medical assistance.

After the bleeding has stopped, you should clean your wound. Do not use soap, as it can irritate the wound. Rinse the wound carefully with clean water. If there are foreign objects in your wound after you have rinsed, use tweezers that you have sterilized with alcohol to remove them.

The area around the wound should be cleaned as well. Use soap and a washcloth to make sure that the soap does not get in the wound itself. You need not use hydrogen peroxide or iodine to clean your wound or the area around it. Cleaning the wound reduces the risk of infection and tetanus. If you are unable to remove debris from your wound, contact your doctor.

When the wound is clean, apply an antibiotic cream or ointment. The most common antibiotic ointments are Neosporin and Polysporin. These will help keep the surface of the wound moist and prevent infection. They do not help the wound to heal faster, but they will allow your body to complete the healing process without any complications. Some people are allergic to antibiotic creams and ointments. If you develop a rash while using one, stop using the ointment.

You should next cover the wound with a bandage. This will keep your wound clean and keep out bacteria. Change the bandage every day or more frequently if it gets dirty or wet. Some people suffer from allergies to the adhesives used on bandages. If you have such an allergy, get adhesive-free bandages or use gauze held down with tape, a gauze roll, or an elastic bandage instead.

Once the wound has healed enough that infection is not likely, you should take the bandage off and expose the wound to the air in order to speed up healing.

Serious cuts require much different medical care. If your cut is more than ¼ inch deep, is gaping, has jagged edges, or has fat or muscle sticking out, you should get to a hospital immediately. You should also get emergency medical care if you are unable to close your wound easily. Stitches will close your wound fully and help to prevent infection.

If your wound is deep or dirty and you have not had a tetanus shot within the past five years, you should get a tetanus booster within 48 hours of suffering the injury. Deep, dirty wounds are the primary cause of tetanus.

In the days after you have treated your wound, check it for signs of infection, such as redness, increased pain, pus, warmth, or swelling. See a doctor if an infection develops.

Tags: first aid, cuts, scrapes, bandage, tetanus, stitches, neosporin, polysporin