From scraped knees in the backyard to cut fingers in the kitchen, life's little mishaps often result in minor wounds you can treat yourself. Experts say you can manage many cuts, scrapes and burns with these tips:
Stop the bleeding. With clean hands, apply gentle pressure to the wound using a clean cloth. Hold it there for several minutes. If you can, lift the wound higher than your heart.
Clean the wound. Use mild soap and running water to remove any dirt or other debris and to keep germs out.
Prevent infection. If you have an antibiotic ointment at home, put a small amount on the wound.
Cover the wound with a clean, sterile bandage. Change the bandage daily and keep the area dry when you shower or bathe.
Cool a burn. If the wound is a burn, hold it under cool, running water right away. Gently dry the skin and apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly. Cover the burn with a clean bandage and change this dressing daily.
When to seek help for a wound
Some wounds may require a doctor's care. Seek medical care right away if you have any of the following:
• Infected wounds. Check the wound often for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, warmth, swelling or oozing.
• Bleeding that won't stop—even after several minutes of applying pressure.
• Severe burns—for example, large burns from boiling water.
• Large or deep wounds. Wide, jagged or deep cuts may need stitches. Puncture wounds may require a tetanus booster shot.
• Bite wounds—from an animal or a person. These wounds can introduce germs deep under the skin where they're more likely to cause an infection.
• Non-healing wounds. Minor wounds typically heal after about a week.
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Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; UptoDate.com