How to Heal a Cut (ER)
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Comment| Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 | Emily Halevy | CWK Producer |
“The more water you can run through a wound, the more you will dilute the bacteria that could be inside that wound and therefore reduce the risk of infection substantially.”
– Dr. Michael Ziegler, M.D., Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Cuts and scrapes are an inevitable part of childhood, but those little wounds raise lots of questions for parents. What’s the best way to treat them? Do you use hydrogen peroxide or water? Do you cover a wound or let it breathe? And how can you tell if a cut can be treated at home or needs medical attention?
Fourteen-year-old Deborah was opening a can of cat food and cut her finger. In general, doctors say the best remedy for cuts and scrapes is … plain old water.
“The more water you can run through a wound, the more you will dilute the bacteria that could be inside that wound and therefore reduce the risk of infection substantially,” says Dr. Michael Ziegler, M.D., Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “So, if you have access to clean water or even sterile water if you’ve got that, just flush that wound out with as much of it as you can.”
Ziegler says you can use hydrogen peroxide, but only once.
“You don’t want to use that over and over again, because it will actually delay the healing because it prevents the tissues from naturally progressing the way they should to heal,” says Ziegler.
And although some people may say to let the wound “breathe,” doctors say to cover it up with a band-aid and antibiotic ointment.
“Probably the most effective thing within those ointments is the petroleum-based ointment,” says Ziegler. “It covers the wound very effectively and prevents things from getting inside of it. The antibiotic that’s fused into the ointment is sort of a bonus. But what’s really effective is the ointment itself at occluding or covering up the wound.”
Dr. Ziegler says if a wound is gaping and deep or won’t stop bleeding, get professional help. With any deep cut on a finger, there’s a concern that the underlying tendons may be damaged. If you’re not sure, it’s always a good idea to call your doctor.
“I would recommend you come to the emergency room to have us take a look at that because it may be a much more significant injury than you think,” says Ziegler.
Deborah’s cut is deep and will need a few stitches. After the wound heals, in a week or so, her doctor will remove the stitches.
Tips for Parents
Some cuts and wounds require more than first aid at home. Contact your doctor if those cuts or wounds bleed heavily and do not stop bleeding after five to 10 minutes of direct pressure; if the cut is deep or longer than an inch; if the cut or wound involves the eye or eyelids; if it is a puncture wound caused by a dirty, rusty object; if it is caused by a human or animal bite or if it is showing signs of infection. (Children’s Hospital Boston)
Call your doctor immediately (night or day) if you observe one of the following problems (Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital):
- A serious injury
- Minor bleeding that won’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
- A deep or gaping cut that may need stitches
- Severe pain
- Injury that was caused by a pencil or rusty or dirty object
- Cut seems infected – fever, spreading redness, increasing pain or swelling after 48 hours
References
- Children’s Hospital Boston
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital
