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Cuts, Scrapes and Puncture Wounds »

Cuts, scrapes (abrasions), and puncture wounds facts

• Washing a cut or scrape with soap, and water and keeping it clean and dry is all that is required to care for most wounds.
• Cleaning the wound with hydrogen peroxide and iodine is acceptable initially, but can delay healing and should be avoided long-term.
• Apply antibiotic ointment and keep the wound covered.
• Seek medical care within 6 hours if the affected person thinks they might need stitches. Any delay can increase the rate of wound infection.
• Any puncture wound through sneakers has a high risk of infection and should be seen by a health care practitioner.
• Any redness, swelling, increased pain, fever, or pus draining from the wound may indicate an infection that requires medical care.

What is the best way to care for a cut or scrape?

The first step in the care of cuts, scrapes (abrasions) is to stop the ble...

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