Emergency Health

Treating Cuts the Right Way

Summary & Participants

One of the first things to know about treating cuts is when to get help.

Medically Reviewed On: August 11, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: When it comes to giving first aid for cuts and wounds, the most important thing to know is when to call for help.

SCOTT CARUTHERS, FIRST AID EXPERT : If it is an uncontrolled bleeding situation and you cannot make the bleeding stop, then this person needs to be seen by a professional medical provider, EMT, paramedic. If it's too deep or too wide for the body to naturally heal it, then you're going to require stitches.

ANNOUNCER: But many minor cuts and wounds can be treated without a trip to the emergency room.

SCOTT CARUTHERS, FIRST AID EXPERT : The first thing that we would want to do, of course, is to irrigate the wound if we see contaminants around the wound. If it's a clean wound and doesn't have contaminants, then, of course, we're going to our first-line of defense, which is direct pressure.

ANNOUNCER: Direct pressure to the center of the cut with clean gauze will help stop the bleeding.

SCOTT CARUTHERS, FIRST AID EXPERT : I can elevate the arm above the heart level as well to help reduce or stop the flow of blood. And we're going to hold this pressure like this for 20 minutes or until the bleeding clearly stops.

ANNOUNCER: Experts say the gauze should stay put, even if blood soaks through it.

SCOTT CARUTHERS, FIRST AID EXPERT : At no point would you remove what you've already done. Simply add more. It’s already begun to form a clot and by ripping off the gauze, we've gone back to step one.

ANNOUNCER: Once the bleeding has stopped, the next step is covering the cut to prevent infection.

SCOTT CARUTHERS, FIRST AID EXPERT : The whole point of dressing is to recreate the flush nature of the skin. And then I’m going to insure that I cover all four corners of the bandage to prevent contaminants, bacteria, dirt and other nastiness from getting underneath the bandage which would then make the whole thing pointless.

ANNOUNCER: As for antibiotics – they belong on the bandage – not the fresh wound.

SCOTT CARUTHERS, FIRST AID EXPERT : Antibiotics are certainly a wonderful inclusion to your treatment, to your first aid care. But the antibiotic cream should not be placed directly on the wound when it's fresh, because it needs time; it needs time to heal, to seal, to clot.

ANNOUNCER: Knowing the right first aid steps can help keep you and your family healthy. Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.