How to treat cuts and grazes

As well as following the Elastoplast Wound Care Routine to help prevent infections, the advice below will help you heal cuts and grazes quickly:

• Stay calm and reassure the patient, even if there is a lot of bleeding. Decide if the casualty needs medical aid, and seek advice if you are not sure.
• If you’re treating a child, explain that what you are doing might be a little painful but they will soon feel better.
• Make sure you wash your hands before attending to the wound or applying plasters or dressings. Alternatively, wear disposable surgical gloves – this will reduce the risk of an infected cut.
• Stop the bleeding by applying a little pressure to the cut with a non-stick pad, sterile gauze or clean tea towel. Minor wounds will soon stop bleeding, so maintain pressure for one or two minutes.
• If the bleeding continues, apply more gauze pads and keep pressure on the wound and seek medical advice. Elevate the wound above the level of the heart to slow the flow of blood.
• Clean the wound carefully, wiping away any dirt and grit. Use a clean cotton cloth sprayed with disinfectant or rinse with cold water, then pat area dry before applying a clean dressing. Do not remove embedded objects – leave that to medical staff.
• Disinfect, then cover the injured area with an appropriate plaster, compress or an adhesive bandage. Keep all cuts clean and change dressing regularly.
  If the wound is very painful in the first couple of days, take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

ISN'T IT BETTER TO LET SMALL WOUNDS DRY IN THE OPEN AIR RATHER THAN PUTTING ON A PLASTER?

No. It is a wound care myth that keeping minor cuts and grazes uncovered helps them to heal faster. The opposite is true. Research shows that covered wounds heal more efficiently and with a reduced risk of infection. Elastoplast products provide safe protection until the wound is completely healed. Learn more about Wound Healing and Elastoplast silver technology.

WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?

Minor wounds should start to heal within a few days, but we recommend you contact a medical professional if:

• The wound is deep and causes major bleeding
• The wound shows signs of an infected cut such as redness, warmth, pain and swelling
• There are foreign objects embedded in the wound, like a splinter of wood or glass
• The wound is longer than 2cm or more than 6mm deep
• In the case of an animal or human bite or contact with animal blood
• The wound is in the area of the face
• A tetanus vaccination may be needed
• At any time you have questions or are uncertain

WHEN SHOULD I GO TO A&E?
Visit your nearest accident and emergency department as soon as possible if:

• The bleeding doesn't stop.
• The bleeding is coming from an artery (blood will be spurting from the wound)
• You have a severe cut on your face
• The cut is located over a joint (e.g. knee, wrist or knuckle)
• You're experiencing loss of sensation around the wound
• The wound is gaping apart - this may require stitches

I’M CONCERNED I HAVE AN INFECTED CUT
Cuts normally heal within a few days, but you should contact a medical professional as soon as you recognise signs of an infected cut or graze. When germs enter the sensitive tissues under our skin, this can cause an infected cut.

Symptoms may include not only pus, but also swelling, redness, heat, pain, itching or burning. You may also feel generally unwell, and have a high temperature of 38C or above. In case of infection, the wound will need specialist medical treatment because infected cuts become more painful over time.

HOW LONG SHOULD I KEEP A PLASTER ON A CUT?
Wound dressings and plasters should usually be changed each day.

1. When using sharp tools, be especially careful and if necessary, wear protective gloves.
2. In the kitchen, chop away from yourself. Remember that sharp knives are actually less dangerous than blunt ones as they will pass through an object more smoothly.
3. Pass scissors with the sharp ends pointing away from the person you are giving them to.
4. Think about any potential hazards around your house or place of work. Learn how to take care of injuries at home here.
5. It's not possible to always avoid cuts and grazes, so make sure you have a well-stocked first aid kit at home. Find out what a first -aid kit should contain here.