How to Take Care of a Severed Finger

Contributor

By firefrog17
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

When your out and about working whether it be at home or at work accidents can happen. Everyone should be prepared in case of an emergency. Read on to learn the proper way to take care of a severed finger. If you don't care for it properly, you could make it more difficult to reattach the severed finger.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Ice
2 Ziploc baggies
Some kind of bandage Preferably sterile gauze.

How to Take Care of a Severed Finger

Step 1

If you or someone you know accidentally cuts off a finger, you should first moisten a bandage with water--preferably a sterile one--and apply to the severed finger. Wrap the unattached part in the bandage. Make sure you cover the whole finger.
Step 2

Place some ice in a Ziploc baggie.
Step 3

Place the wrapped finger in a second baggie all by itself.
Step 4

Place the baggie with the finger inside the baggie with the ice.
Step 5

Bandage the stump--the part where part of the finger was--with a wet sterile bandage.
Step 6

Get to the hospital. Call an ambulance or have someone take you.

Tips & Warnings

Always try and find the pieces that were severed, so you can take them with you to the hospital.
The sooner you get to the hospital the better your chances are of reattachment.
You should never place a finger that has been severed directly on ice. This will freeze the part killing the cells. The finger will die and most likely not be able to be reapplied.

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