It’s a common part of life. If you can move, you will get a cut or scratch at some time.
Kids do it all the time but so do adults. If you happen to have a cut or scratch,
here are some first aid tips to help it heal fast.
Cuts and scratches are considered minor injuries but that can change depending
on the circumstances. Here are some guidelines to help you administer the right treatment.
How to Evaluate Cuts
The skin contains a lot of nerve endings and blood vessels. A minor cut could hurt bad and bleed profusely, but a little bleeding helps clean wounds, so a little bleeding is good. If you cannot control the bleeding from a cut or scrape , seek medical attention.
Try these few steps first...
* Clean the cut – Before you reach for the peroxide, start with just cool water. Gently wash around the wound with washcloth. Do not use irritating soap, iodine, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide -- fresh, clean water should be all you need.
* Dry the cut – Once you dry you can tell if and what is still bleeding. The depth of the cut will also become apparent.
* Apply mild pressure to shallow cuts – Because of the many blood vessels, even a shallow cut may bleed a lot. Applying a little pressure can stop the bleeding. Then, the wound can be dressed with an ointment, band-aid or gauze and tape. Antibiotic creams and ointments not only keep wounds moist but they can reduce the risks of infection. Cover it up with an adhesive bandage to keep out the bacteria (and your prying fingers), and change the bandage daily.
* See a doctor – If the cut is deep, a bandage won’t do. And, the bleeding may not stop with pressure. For deep cuts, cuts longer than an inch, heavy bleeding, puncture wounds and large debris in wounds, medical attention maybe needed.
A puncture wound can cause infection because it forces bacteria and debris deep into the tissue, and the wound closes quickly forming an ideal place for bacteria to grow.
How to Evaluate Scrapes
Scrapes are usually more straightforward than cuts. Here are some suggestions for caring for them.
* Wash the scrape – Even tiny bits of debris like small stone chips can lead to infection.
Wash with cool clean water as soon as you can.
* Check out what made the scrape – Any animal scrapes that involve teeth or claws may need a doctor’s attention.
Watch out for rusty nails, fences and other metals, those could carry tetanus bacteria.
* Dry the scrape and dress – Now you can see how deep and damaged the skin really is.
Many scrapes can be handled with an antibiotic ointment only. Leaving the scrape exposed to air
will help speed healing. The ointment helps to also keep skin moist and dirt out as it heals.
At some time in your life you will acquire a cut or scrape. Applying beginner’s first aid will help you
evaluate the injury to see if you need further medical attention.
Here are a couple of recipes find the ones you like the best and keep the ingredients handy
These are from the book Natural Medicine Chest and Home Remedies
1. Sprinkle cut with dry bentonite clay
2. Place some of the clay in the bottom of glass or ceramic bowl
3. Add water to one half inch over clay
4. Using a non-metallic spatula, apply the thick clay paste to cover the cut
5. Keep in place with bandage for two hours
6. Wash wound with either salted water or lemon water
or
1. combine:
2 drops tea tree essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
2 cups water
2. Bathe the area with the solution
3. Place 2 drops lavender oil on bandage and place over the cut
4. Renew twice daily
5.Expose wound to air whenever possible