First Aid Quiz: Care for Wounds, Scrapes, Cuts, and Burns

It is a common misconception that you should apply hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to an injury. These can be harmful to the tissue and may inhibit healing. The best treatment for cuts and scrapes involves first cleaning the wound with mild soap and fresh water. Rinse the wound for several minutes. This helps remove debris, dirt, and bacteria. See your doctor right away for wounds that are deep, gaping, large, or that do not stop bleeding after applying pressure for several minutes.

Wounds that are moist heal more quickly compared to wounds that are not moist. Use antibiotic ointment for cuts and scrapes to keep them moist. Creams and ointments also help prevent bandages from sticking to the wound. Follow your doctor’s instructions for wound care. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to a wound to help keep it moist and help reduce the risk of infection.

It is another common misconception that you should let wounds air out. What should you put on cuts and scrapes? First wash the wound with soap and water and apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment. Then put a bandage on over the cut or scrape to keep dirt and bacteria out. A bandage also protects a healing wound from rubbing against clothing. Bandages placed across the width of a cut can help hold the edges together while the wound heals. You can use more than one butterfly bandage to help the edges of a cut lined up to stay together.

You shouldn't rip a bandage off quickly. Doing so many injure skin by peeling off a scab or opening a wound again. It is safer and better to pull a bandage off carefully and slowly. If it appears that the bandage is stuck to a scab, soak the area in warm water to soften the scab. A bandage may also tear out hairs around the wound. To minimize pain, pull the bandage off slowly in the same direction as the hair growth.

A skin burn is delicate so you should not put ice or butter on the area. Doing so may increase tissue damage. Butter holds heat in the skin, making the injury worse. The best thing to do for minor burns is to hold the area under cool running water to decrease the temperature and soothe pain. Use sterile gauze bandaging and nonstick dressing to cover the blistered skin. Use a light touch and wrap the bandage loosely to minimize the risk of it sticking to the burned area.