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How To

How to Care for Minor Abrasions and Scratches

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(10 Ratings)

Treating cuts right away lessens the chance that an infection will start.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Adhesive Bandages
  • Antibacterial Ointments
  • Antibacterial Soaps
  • Butterfly Bandages
  • Adhesive Bandages
  • Butterfly Bandages
  1. Step 1

    Wash your hands before and after tending a wound.

  2. Step 2

    Rinse the wound with clean water. Flush out all dirt and debris.

  3. Step 3

    Using clean gauze, put pressure on the wound to stop any bleeding.

  4. Step 4

    Clean the area around the injury with soap and water or Betadine, but avoid getting any solution inside the wound.

  5. Step 5

    Leave the wound open to the air unless there is a chance that you'll be exposing it to dirt or infection. In that case, bandage the wound loosely, allowing air to get in.

  6. Step 6

    If the wound edges are open, use a butterfly bandage'a butterfly-shaped bandage that brings the edges of the wound together and reduces scarring'to close straight, clean, superficial wounds.

  7. Step 7

    Call your doctor if you detect signs of infection, which include redness, warmth, redness up the arm, or oozing or drainage from the wound.

Tips & Warnings
  • Watch for signs of infection, which include redness, warmth, redness up the arm, or oozing or drainage from the wound.
  • See a doctor if the wound is deep, won't stop bleeding or has edges that won't come together. Animal bites, human bites and deep wounds should be evaluated by a physician in case antibiotics are needed. Also see a doctor if the wound is very dirty and more than 10 years have elapsed since your last tetanus shot.

Comments  

Amin said

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on 4/10/2008 One may use turmeric powder, from the kitchen, to dust the wound after cleaning and this will stop the bleeding.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 You can put spider webs on cuts to stop them from bleeding.

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