Cuts and puncture wounds

Cuts and puncture wounds

It is easy to be unlucky and get small cuts or puncture wounds. These wounds often have clean and straight edges, but they can bleed profusely. You can treat most of these wounds yourself. If the wound bursts a lot, it should be stitched within 6-8 hours.

Minor cuts or punctures

• Wash your hands before treating your own or other people's wounds

• If the wound is small, let it bleed a little at first. This cleans the wound

• Clean the wound - see wound care

• Stop the bleeding by placing a pressure compress on the wound and elevating the body part

• If the wound bursts, hold it together with wound closure strips or plasters

• Cover the wound with a compress, for example Mepore or Norgesplaster Scansoft compress, and keep it clean and dry

Chips

Remove the tile with tweezers or similar. Clean the tweezers before using them to reduce the risk of infection. If you do not manage to remove the tile, it will usually come out on its own within a few days

If the tile does not come out, or an infection occurs, a doctor should be contacted

Nails, shards of glass or other

Such puncture wounds are often deep (although the wound itself may appear small on the surface), and should therefore not be treated yourself. Contact a doctor or emergency room. If there is a risk of infection, a tetanus shot and antibiotics may be appropriate.

Serious stab wounds

In the case of serious stab wounds, an ambulance must be called, and the stabbing tool must remain in the wound. Do not move it or pull it out! Keep the injured person still and stop any bleeding. If the person is cold, clammy and pale or unconscious, place the injured person in a stable side position.

When should you contact a doctor for cuts and puncture wounds?

• If the cut is deep (more than 1 cm), cracks a lot, and/or bleeds a lot. Remember deep wounds can look small on the surface.

• If damage to muscles and/or nerves is suspected.

• If there are foreign objects in the wound that you cannot remove or that do not come out on their own.

• If you get a deep puncture wound, for example if you step on a nail or get shards of glass in your foot.

• If infection is suspected. Typical symptoms of an infection are that the skin becomes warm, red and swollen, usually with increasing pain and aches.

• If the wound does not stop bleeding.