There’s likely no one alive who hasn’t been the victim of a cut. Most of the time though, a minor cut or scrape can easily be fixed with a good scrubbing and an adhesive bandage. But for kids, this inconvenience can be a big and scary event. The most important part is to always keep your child calm. Assure him or her that you will make it better.
You’ll need to inspect the cut to know how to treat it. If the cut is deep, bleeding excessively or was caused by an unknown animal or type of metal, consult a doctor or medical professional immediately. If you are waiting for medical help to respond to a large wound, apply pressure to the wounded area over a covering. If bleeding doesn’t stop, apply more pressure. Smaller cuts are much more manageable. Our friends at First Aid Info provide these tips for how to treat a small cut from start to finish:
- Place the wound under warm running water to remove any debris (i.e. asphalt gravel) from the area.
- When it has stopped bleeding, wipe the wound with a topical antiseptic like Betadine using a swab, pad or piece of gauze.
- To reduce the risk of infection, cover the wounded area with an antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin.
- Apply a clean adhesive bandage, or series of bandages, to cover the entire surface area of the wound. Be sure not to touch the bandage where it will cover the wound.
- If the wound is slow in healing, replace bandages every two days.
As always, if you’re unsure of what to do or feel the wound may be too serious for you to handle, call a medical professional immediately. Check out the American Red Cross website for more information on basic first aid classes in your area.
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