First Aid for Cuts: What to Do and When to Seek Help

Damage to the surface of the skin is called a cut. Both cuts and peeling refer to damage to the surface of the skin, but in cuts, the inner surfaces and muscles of the skin can be damaged, whereas in peeling, the inner surfaces are not damaged.

While doing your daily chores, you can get small cuts from anything and anytime, like due to a little carelessness while working in the kitchen, you can get a cut on your finger or you can get cuts on your knees and elbows due to a fall.

Any kind of damage to your body is called an injury. You can get hurt due to an accident at home, office or during sports and any kind of uproar, beating or fight. Sharp or penetrating objects can hurt you.

(Read more - First Aid For Injury)

If you or someone else has a cut on the skin, then first aid can be given in the following way -

• First of all, wash your hands. This reduces the risk of infection.
• Wash the cut wound with water. Soap can cause irritation in the wound, so do not apply it directly on the wound.
• If dust or dirt remains in the wound even after washing, try to remove it with the help of small tweezers and if you are unable to do so, go to your doctor. Washing the wound properly reduces the risk of tetanus.
• Do not clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide. If you are still using it, do not put it directly on the wound.
• In case of small cuts and scratches, bleeding stops automatically, but if the bleeding is not stopping, put a cloth on the wound and apply pressure.
• If the wound is on the hand or leg, keep it raised above the level of your heart so that bleeding can be reduced.
• After cleaning the wound, apply antibiotic cream on it so that it remains moist. For this, you can also use petroleum jelly. Sometimes a cream can cause rashes on the wound, if this happens, stop using that cream immediately.
• Cover the cut skin with a bandage or bandage.
• If the cut is deep, get stitches done by a doctor.
• Change the bandage daily. Even if the bandage has become dirty, change it at the same time. Wound dressings or bandages are easily available at medical stores.
• Wash your hands again after doing first aid and clean your hands thoroughly before changing the bandage every time.
• If you have not had a tetanus injection in the last 5 years, go to the doctor and get vaccinated for it.
• If you are experiencing the symptoms of the above infection, go to your doctor.

(Read more - How to Heal Wounds Naturally)

The risk of infection is quite high when there is an injury. Keep in mind the following symptoms for infection -

• Increasing pain in the wound over time.
• Redness around the cut.
• Swelling.
• The skin around the cut becomes hot.
• Fever. 
• Pus coming out of the wound.
• Red stripes on the skin around the cut.
• Feeling uneasy.

(Read more - First Aid For Injury, What To Do)

Go to the doctor in the following situations -

• If the cut is deep.
• If you have fever due to the cut.
• If the cut is on the person's face.
• If the cut is near the eye.
• If you are seeing changes around the wound, such as increasing redness, swelling etc.
• If there is soil or other particles in the wound that are not coming out.
• If there are red stripes around the cut.
• If the cut is caused by an animal or human bite.
• If the skin around the cut is numb.
• If you have diabetes.
• If you have not received a tetanus injection in the last 10 years.
• If the cut is deep and you have not received a tetanus injection in the last 5 years.

(Read more - First aid for sprain)

If your skin is cut, keep the following things in mind -

• Do not leave the wound open, this increases the risk of infection.
• Do not clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, this damages the skin tissue and the wound does not heal quickly.
• Do not keep the wound dry, apply moisturizer on it so that the wound will heal quickly.
• Do not pull the bandage or bandage from the wound immediately, doing so can remove the scab of the wound and the wound can open again.
• Do not apply alcohol on the wound.

(Read more - First Aid for Bruises)

It is most important to clean the wound immediately when the skin is cut. First of all, wash the cut area with clean water so that dirt and dust are removed. If there is bleeding, stop the bleeding by applying light pressure with a clean cloth or bandage. Protect the cut area from infection by applying antiseptic cream. Leave small wounds dry or cover them with a bandage, while contacting a doctor for deep cuts. Protect the area from dirt and water until the wound heals. If signs of infection such as redness, swelling or pus are seen, seek medical help immediately.