While there are pleasant things about the whole growing up scenario, like getting more freedom, earning your own money and determining your hours of fun and play, there is also another essential part: cuts and bruises. Knowing the basics of first aid helps ones deal in a timely and efficient manner with grazes and small wounds caused by cuts. Home treatment and a good dose of tender loving care do the trick and this is the primary aim of first aid: to promote healing and to minimize risk of infection.
Top tips for dispensing first aid for cuts
- The best way to tend to a cut or scrape of the skin is to thoroughly clean the area near the wound with soap and water while exercising caution in removing any foreign material, like dirt or bits of grass, that may be embedded and are likely to cause infection. The affected area should be kept clean and dry. Soap should not be applied directly on the wound as it may irritate it further.
- To keep infection and dirt at bay, one can cover the grazed area with a cotton gauze bandage or even a simple band-aid after it has been allowed to absorb any first aid ointment, like Bacitracin or Neosporin. These work to prevent infection. However, health experts opine that such products are best avoided on the hands and feet beyond the first day because they can delay healing.
- The first aid measures need to be consistently practiced till complete healing takes place and the wound should be washed regularly with soap and water everyday. Scrubbing is at best avoided to allow the wound to heal.
- Products containing hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or any form of iodine solutions should be avoided when treating wounds as these can delay wound healing and do not actually help prevent infection, as may be the common misconception.
- If the cut is minor, simple cleaning helps avoid infections. If there is bleeding, it needs to be stopped as soon as possible and most minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own.
- In the event a cut does not stop bleeding on its own, the first aid giver can apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth/bandage and hold the pressure continuously for 20-30 minutes. Avoid checking to see if the bleeding has stopped as this can cause further damage/dislodge the fresh clot that may be forming and cause bleeding to start again.
- Medical assistance is called for if the blood spurts or continues to flow after continuous pressure.
- If dirt or debris remains in the wound after washing, the first aid giver can use tweezers cleaned with alcohol to remove the particles. If debris remains embedded in the wound even after cleaning, a doctor’s opinion is necessary to determine possibility of further health risk and the need for a tetanus shot.
- However, emergency health experts are of the opinion that if a wound is cleaned thoroughly, it reduces the risk of tetanus.