Cuts, scrapes, and other wounds and injuries are common. Most cuts and scrapes are small injuries that can be treated at home, but it is good to know when to get medical care in case of an injury. Below are a few tips on first aid for cuts and scrapes.
Causes of Cuts and Scrapes
Generally, mild abrasions, also known as grazes or scrapes, do not bleed or scar, but deep abrasions may lead to the formation of scar tissue. When your skin, is accidentally broken or worn away, cuts and scrapes happen. A sudden fall, banging against a hard object, or a cut by any sharp object, can cause a cut or a scrape.
Older people and people who have delicate skin, because of certain illnesses or medications, are more likely to get cuts and scrapes.
People who have weak immune systems, those who take medications that make the skin dry and fragile; who take medications that decrease blood clotting; those who have diabetes, should be treated with special care, as their injuries will not heal easily.
How to Treat Cuts And Scrapes
1. Clean the Cut
Before you treat a cut or a scrape, make sure you wash your hands so they are clean. Make sure that anything that touches the scrape or cut is as clean as possible, to prevent infection.
The best way, to clean a cut, scrape or a punctured wound, is with cool water to remove dirt and debris. Hold the wound under running water or fill a tub with cool water. Pour the water from a cup over the wound. Use a soap and a soft washcloth to clean the skin around the wound.
It is recommended, not to use, stronger cleaning solutions, to treat minor cuts and scrapes, as this may cause irritation to the wound. You can also use, tweezers, to remove any dirt that remains in the wound after washing.
2. Stop the Bleeding
The best first aid for cuts and scrapes, is to stop the bleeding. Bleeding, helps to clean out the wounds. Most minor cuts or scrapes, usually will stop bleeding in a short time or on their own, whereas the areas rich in blood vessels, such as wounds on the face, head or mouth, will bleed a lot sometimes.
With the help of a clean cloth, tissue or a piece of gauze, apply firm but gentle pressure on the cut, to stop the bleeding. Do not remove the gauze or cloth, if the blood soaks through it, when you are holding over the cut. Rather, put more gauze or another cloth on top of the previous cloth, and apply some more pressure, for about 20-30 minutes.
If you have a wound on an arm or leg, to slow down the bleeding, raise it above your heart, and if bleeding does not stop, call for medical help.
3. Cover the Cut or Scrape
An uncovered wound, helps to heal quickly, and become dry. It is not necessary, to cover the affected area of the wound, if does not get dirty or be rubbed by clothing. If the areas such as your hands, or knee, can get dirty and be irritated by clothing. Once bleeding is stopped, and the wound is clean, cover the cut or scrape, with a sterile bandage (R) or gauze pad and tape.
4. Change the dressing
You have to change the dressing or bandage everyday, to keep the wound clean and dry, or when it gets dirty. Some may have an allergy to the adhesive in tapes and bandages, you can use adhesive-free dressings or sterile gauze with paper tape, rolled gauze or an elastic bandage, that is loosely tied, instead.
Bandages or dressings, used for scrapes, are generally, called as occlusive or semi occlusive bandages. These bandages should be kept moist and clean, to help reduce scarring and fasten up the healing process.
5. Get stitches for deep wounds
Stitches are, generally, done when there is a deep cut, all the way through the skin. It is advised to consult a doctor as soon as possible, as using adhesive strips or butterfly tape may only hold a minor cut together, but does not close the wound completely. To minimize scarring, and reduce the risk of infection, it is necessary to close the wound within a few hours.
6. See for any signs of infection
There is less chance of infection, if the injured area, is kept clean. However, there may be chances of infection to look out for. If the wound does not heal, and if you notice any of the following symptoms, consult your doctor right away. The symptoms, you may see are:
- Discharge or pus coming from the cut or scrape
- Fever
- Increased pain
- Redness, swelling, or warmth in the affected area
- Red streaks around the wound
7)Get a tetanus shot
If the injured person, did not get any, tetanus shot in the past five years, and if the wound is deep or dirty, he/she will need an immediate tetanus shot (R)
When to call a doctor?
You would need a doctor if:
- You cannot remove all of the dirt or debris out of the wound, or if the wound was caused by some dirty objects.
- The wound is on the face.
- The wound is caused by an animal or a human bite.
- The edges of the cut are open, or if the cut is deep, or there is visibility of fat or muscle. These signs, may need stitches to your wounds.
- You have a punctured wound, or a cut, and did not get any tetanus shot, in the past 5 years.
- There is numbness in the injured area.
By Supraja
