Care for Minor Abrasions and Scratches
Treating cuts right away lessens the chance that an infection will start.
Steps:
1. Wash your hands before and after tending a wound
2. Rinse the wound with clean water. Flush out all dirt and debris
3. Using clean gauze, put pressure on the wound to stop any bleeding.
4. Clean the area around the injury with soap and water or Betadine, but avoid getting any solution inside the wound.
5. Leave the wound open to the air unless there is a chance that you’ll be exposing it to dirt or infection. In that case, bandage the wound loosely, allowing air to get in.
6. If the wound edges are open, use a butterfly bandage—a butterfly-shaped bandage that brings the edges of the wound together and reduces scarring—to close straight, clean, superficial wounds.
7. Call your doctor if you detect signs of infection, which include redness, warmth, redness up the arm, or oozing or drainage from the wound.
Tips:
Watch for signs of infection, which include redness, warmth, redness up the arm, or oozing or drainage from the wound.
Warnings:
See a doctor if the wound is deep, won’t stop bleeding or has edges that won’t come together. Animal bites, human bites and deep wounds should be evaluated by a physician in case antibiotics are needed. Also see a doctor if the wound is very dirty
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