Most small wounds can be treated at home with soap, water, gauze and band-aids. The most important thing is to stop the bleeding and thoroughly clean the wound. Larger wounds that ’gape’ should be examined by a doctor and perhaps need stitches or glue.
What can you do?
The first thing to do is to clean the wound for dirt. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water until it is completely clean. Then you can carefully check on the wound. In the case of a bleeding wound, the bleeding can be stopped by pressing gauze against the wound for 5 minutes (a handkerchief or a piece of kitchen paper can also make do). Finally, you put a band-aid over the wound so that the edges of the wound fit together. The wound should avoid contact with water for two days.
If there is redness and swelling around the wound – it can be a sign of inflammation.
If you have not had a tetanus vaccination within the last 10 years.
If the bleeding has not been stopped with firm pressure against the wound for 5 minutes. If the wound is big and ‘gapes’. In that case, it requires stitches or glue. If you are unable to clean the wound properly. If you, after a couple of days discover a red stripe in the skin from the wound running towards the heart. This can be sign of blood poisoning that should be treated with antibiotics.
