Most often, a kiss will make it well. One of the things that is sure to occur is falling and frequently that fall results in a scrap or cut. Children and the elderly are “fall risks”. Fortunately for children their bones are less brittle than the elderly. Every child caregiver should know how to care for cuts and scrapes to prevent serious bleeding, infection and potential scarring.
According to healthychildren.org the best way to treat small scrapes/cuts if bleeding is the following: apply direct pressure with a clean cloth for 5-10 minutes. Don’t peek too soon. Once the bleeding stops gently wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. If your child strongly objects to the washing try soaking the wound in the bathtub. Cleaning the wound will decrease the chance of infection and prevent dark spots caused by dirt trapped in the skin. After cleaning apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist and cover it with dry gauze/Band-Aid until healed.
To stitch or not is frequently a question. Any cut that goes through the skin may benefit. A gaping open wound with visible dark red muscle or yellowish fat should probably be closed at urgent care, even if it is small. If gaping and more than ½ inch, they should be closed. Small cuts that are not gaping would probably benefit from steri-strips.
Uncontrolled bleeding is a serious emergency. This could be from a kitchen injury, a bicycle fall, a shooting or even a suicide attempt. Call 911 as a person with uncontrolled bleeding can die from blood loss within 5 minutes. Apply pressure to the site with both hands. The hand pressure should cover the entire wound, be steady and firm. If possible remove the clothing over the wound to make sure there is not another wound. The wound can be covered with bandages or clothing then continue firm pressure.
If bleeding doesn’t stop and you have a commercial tourniquet, it can be placed as high as possible above the wound on the extremity. Tighten until the bleeding is stopped. Tourniquets can be lifesaving but should not be used on the head, neck or torso and only when pressure doesn’t stop the bleeding. They do stop bleeding but also stop blood flow to the rest of the tissue.
Skin glue is good for straight cuts with edges held close. They will not work well were the skin is pulled over a joint. Steri-strips (butterfly) are narrow adhesive strips. Placed over a cut and pulling the wound close are good for small cuts and should stay on for three days. Stitches provide more strength. They do take more time and pain places them. The non-absorbable stitches need to be removed in 5-12 days. Facial cuts should be seen by a doctor.
After the skin is fully healed (2 weeks) avoid sun exposure on the scar for up to 6 months. Massaging the scar with moderate pressure may help the scar flatten.
by Sally Robinson, MD Clinical Professor
Keeping Kids Healthy
Published 1/22/2021
Also See: UTMB Pediatrics - Pediatric Primary Care
UTMB After Hours Urgent Care