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Cuts And Scrapes : Shallow |
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Shallow cuts and scrapes are common. Many adults have occasional abrasions, and they may occur in toddlers nearly every day.
It is often hard to know when a cut can safely be treated at home. Such minor cuts are usually shorter than one-half of an inch and do not appear to be deep. They do not gape open widely, have little red muscle or yellow fat visible, and do not continue to bleed after pressure has been applied for a few minutes. IF YOU DECIDE TO TREAT A CUT OR SCRAPE AT HOME, YOU SHOULD: - Clean the wound thoroughly with clean running water.
- Apply a sterile bandage.
- You may apply a topical antiseptic available from a pharmacy.
- Keep the wound from exposure to strong direct sunlight while it is healing.
- Clean and change the dressing daily.
- You may have to scrub scrapes and abrasions in order to remove ground-in dirt. Although this will hurt, it is necessary to minimise the chance of infection.
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF INFECTION. IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPS, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR - increasing pain
- redness spreading out from the wound, or forming a streak up an arm or leg
- the wound begins to smell
- yellow pus comes out of the wound
- the area around the wound is getting hotter
- you begin to run a fever and do not feel well
If it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus booster, call your doctor to arrange for a booster. Article #4907 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
