Taking Care of a Cut to Help It Heal Faster

We all suffer from small cuts or wounds sometimes, be it a mishap while preparing dinner, repairing broken things, or even while enjoying arts and crafts. Often, we do not give much thought to the injury and go on with our day, unaware of the proper wound care procedures to be followed. However, paying attention to and treating every wound, no matter how small, is the only way to avoid infection or greater injury. Before diving into the world of wound care, let’s take a look at what a cut actually is.

A cut is any opening in the skin caused by a sharp object, such as a knife, a sharp tool or even a piece of paper. A cut may penetrate deep into the skin, which could lead to strong bleeding and leave a scar. Minor cuts only scratch the surface of the skin, and are easier to treat.

The first step to treating any wound is to get the bleeding under control. Here is how to:

•  Use a sterile compress or a clean piece of cloth to gently exert pressure on the wound
• Do not use cotton wool or other materials that could stick to the wound
• Minor cuts should stop bleeding after a few minutes
• If the bleeding persists, apply more gauze pads to the wound
• Keep exerting pressure on it, and seek medical attention

The basic first aid for cuts can be completed in the following 3 simple steps:

When children cut themselves, they can become extremely anxious. You need to keep calm and treat their wound thoroughly while reassuring them. Here's how to take care of your kid’s cuts:

• Reassure: Maintain your composure and reassure the child that everything will be fine
• Distract: Move their attention away from the pain with a toy, treat, or something interesting to look at
• Make treatment exciting: For example, cover the wound with a colourful kid’s wound plaster with their favourite cartoon character on it
• Minimise pain: To avoid burning the wound, use a wound spray that does not contain alcohol or iodine
• Prevent: Provide age-appropriate scissors and knives to children to help them avoid cuts, limit their access to sharp objects

 

Most cuts will heal in 5 to 10 days. However, the length of time it takes to heal depends on a variety of factors, including the depth of the cut, its size, and your age. Uncovered wounds take longer to heal, so always apply a wound plaster to your cut. Read here to know more about how to heal wounds faster: Important benefits of Silver Ions in Wound Healing

Read here for more info on how to get started on a first aid kit: A Checklist of First Aid Items