by Megan Worley

Created on: December 01, 2008

Cuts and scrapes are a fact of life for most people. A simple slip of a knife or a broken window and a cut appears. The amount of scrapes people acquire over a lifetime means that everyone should know the basic first aid techniques and steps for dealing with a cut. While most minor cuts don't require a visit to the doctor it is still very important that they be well taken care of to avoid complications. To that end there are certain steps that should be taken with every cut.

If the cut does not stop bleeding on its own, or is bleeding a lot, then gentle pressure with a clean towel for a while. Leave the towel along for a while to allow the clot to form; continuously checking it will hamper the clot forming. If bleeding continues elevating the wound about the heart may also help.

When the wound has stopped bleeding it will need to be cleaned. The wound should be rinsed with cold water and soap should not be used. If there is foreign material in the wound it should be removed carefully, using tweezers if necessary. If there is debris still in the wound after cleaning a doctor will need to be seen. Use another clean towel to dry the wound and area around it.

Once the cut is cleaned antibacterial ointment or cream should be applied in a thin layer over the cut. This will help to discourage any infections and allow the cut to heal more efficiently.

The wound should then be covered with a bandage to keep it clean and bacteria out. A simple Band-Aid should suffice for most cuts however if the cut is to large using sterile cause and medical tape will also work. This bandage will need to be changed at least daily, or more if the area gets wet of dirty.

Watch for infection. Despite taking all the aforementioned precautions infections can still occur. Watch for the site becoming red and swelling, the pain increasing and any discharge and warmth from the cut. If an infection occurs contact your doctor.

When to get stitches: Some wounds cannot be dealt with at home. If the cut is more than of an inch deep or if fat or muscle is visible then a trip to the doctor should be the next order of business. Also if the cut is too wide to be help together with bandaging then stitches are probably required.

Following these very simple steps will allow people to care for their cuts at home as well as know when it is time to take a trip to the doctor.

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