The first step to treating all injuries, especially those with open wounds, is to wash your hands to prevent infection. Next, it is important to make sure that the bleeding has stopped; you can do this by holding a clean bandage or cloth against the wound gently to apply pressure until the bleeding has stopped. Once the bleeding has stopped, clean the wound by running it under water to get out any dirt and use tweezers sanitized with alcohol to remove any debris. You can use soap to clean around the outside of the wound, but take care to avoid getting any soap directly in the wound.

To keep the wound moist and prevent scarring, apply petroleum jelly or antibiotic cream to the wound before covering it with a bandage or gauze. If the wound is minor enough, you can keep it uncovered so long as no debris can enter. Change the bandage or gauze at least once a day or if it gets wet or dirty. If the wound is particularly dirty or you haven’t had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years, seek medical attention to receive one. Keep an eye on the wound as it heals for any redness, tenderness, drainage, swelling, or inflammation that are indicators of an infection.

A burn will need emergency medical attention if it covers the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or covers a large area of the body or a major joint. As well, if the burn is deep and is affecting all layers of the skin or deeper tissues or burns that cause the skin to look leather, please seek emergency medical attention to have a medical professional assess the wounds. A third-degree burn is the most serious kind of burn that you can get and will always require immediate medical attention as it affects the skin, underlying fat, tissues, and even bone.

There are a few indicators that your cut is serious enough to seek immediate emergency medical attention, most having to do with the bleeding. If after 10 minutes the bleeding has continued, or the wound is bleeding excessively or spurts blood at all, seek medical attention immediately or call 911. If the cut is close to the chest, abdomen, neck, eye, or throat, it can be far more dangerous, so any of those also warrant an emergency. If the person who is cut also is in severe pain, is vomiting, is dizzy, has quick or troubled breathing, or is unconscious, this is also a medical emergency and must be treated by a medical professional as soon as possible.

Small accidents happen frequently and are often impossible to predict. Minor cuts and scrapes can result from falling, banging into a hard object, or catching the kin on something sharp. Minor burns happen all of the time while cooking or baking from grabbing objects off of the stove or spilling boiling liquids. While it can be tough to prevent any cuts or burns to occur, it is important to take precautions in your own home to ensure that it is a safe environment for all who live there.

Be mindful of children and pets in your environment as they might not know yet what is safe to touch or grab. Keep obstacles out of high-traffic areas to avoid tripping or slipping. It is important to keep first aid kit supplies easily accessible in your home just in case anything happens, which should consist of instructions if necessary, bandages or gauze, antibiotic cream or petroleum jelly, alcohol wipes or another antiseptic solution, tweezers, scissors, and plastic non-latex gloves. For more information contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 5115 N Galloway Ave #203 Mesquite TX 75150. We serve patients from Mesquite TX, Garland TX, Dallas TX, Rowlett TX, Balch Springs TX, and Plano TX.