How to tend to Cuts and Abrasions

Little feet of our kids are tirelessly traipsing to discover their world.  As they clamber around, most certainly they come up with a few cuts and abrasion.  We need to care for these scrapes and scabs to avoid infection.

photo taken from the web

 For minor cuts and abrasions with little to no bleeding;

• Wash down the wound under running water to irrigate out dirt and debris. Thoroughly wash the wound with mild soap or better to use an anti-bacterial soap then rinse thoroughly.
• Apply antiseptic like Povidone Iodine (Betadine) and cover the wound with sterile gauze or bandage to prevent them from poking it.
• Examine the wound daily, keeping an eye out for redness, swelling or pus which is an indication of infection.
• Change the dressing as needed.  Leave the bandages off once a scab forms

For large cuts and abrasions, with continuous bleeding

• Wash down the wound under running water to irrigate out as much dirt and debris as you can 
• Have your child sit or lie and raise the bleeding wound above the level of your child’s heart. 
• Place a piece of clean cloth over the entire wound 
• Using the palm of your hand, apply direct and steady pressure on the wound continuously for 5 minutes.  Do not stop to check the wound. If blood soaks through the cloth, do not remove it.  Place another cloth pad on top and continue applying pressure until the bleeding stops
• Seek immediate medical attention for your child once you’ve controlled the bleeding.