Your child falls or slips from a skateboard or hoverboard and gets a nasty cut on the elbow.
You accidentally cut your finger with a kitchen knife or scissors.
A sharp rock hidden in the grass cuts your foot while walking barefoot in your yard.
You get a deep splinter while moving an old, wood furniture piece.
Minor lacerations and small cuts are troublesome and painful. They are also dangerous if they are not treated correctly. Infections can develop.
When to See a Medical Provider
- Deep wounds
- Wounds that continuously bleed without stopping
- The wound has jagged edges, is inflamed or tender
- It is a facial wound
- The wound has dirt in it that can’t be removed
- A thick, gray pus-like fluid oozes from the cut
- The wound is numb
- The wound causes discomfort in moving
- You or your child begin to run a temperature of more than 100°F
Laceration and Wound Care Treatments
- Cleaning the wound thoroughly
- Checking for damage
- Closing the wound by using stitches (also known as sutures) or adhesives
- Giving a tetanus shot if one has not been given within the last five years
- Prescribing antibiotics