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Cuts,
scrapes, and punctures can all result in bleeding.
Cuts slice the skin open. Close a cut so it won't get
infected.
Scrapes hurt only the top part of your skin. They can
hurt more than cuts, but they heal quicker.
Punctures stab deep. Leave punctures open so they won't
get infected.
You can treat most cuts, scrapes, and punctures yourself.
But you should get emergency care if you are bleeding
a lot, or if you are hurt very badly. Blood gets thicker
after bleeding for a few minutes. This is called clotting.
Clotting slows down bleeding. Press on the cut to help
slow down the bleeding. You may have to apply pressure
for 10 minutes or more for a bad cut. Sometimes a cut
needs stitches. Stitches help the cut heal.
FIRST
AID
Leave the bandage on for 24 hours. Change the bandage
every day or two or more often if you need to. Be careful
when you take the bandage off. You don't want to make
the cut bleed again. If you have used gauze, wet it before
you pull it off.
Take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen
or ibuprofen to relieve the pain.
For
punctures that cause minor bleeding:
Let the wound bleed to clean itself out.
Remove the object that caused the puncture. Use clean
tweezers. Hold a lit match to the ends of the tweezers
to sterilize them.
Don't pull anything out of a
puncture wound if blood gushes from it, or if it has been
bleeding badly. Get emergency care.
Wash the wound with warm water and soap.
Leave the wound open. Cover it with a bandage if it is
big or still bleeds a little.
Soak the wound in warm, soapy water 2 to 3 times a day.
SEEK
CARE IF:
You have not had a tetanus shot
in the last 10 years. (5 years for a deep puncture.)
Bleeding in the wound area is getting worse.
You develop a high temperature.
You have signs of infection (pain or soreness, swelling,
redness, pus, a bad smell, or red streaks coming from
the injured site).
You have numbness or swelling below the wound.
You cannot move the joint below the wound.
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