How-To Guides · Safety
How to Treat a Cut: Stop the Bleeding, Clean It, Cover It
Kitchen knife slipped? Most small cuts can be handled at home in a few minutes. Here's how, following the NHS, and the signs a cut needs a doctor.
1. Step 1: Press
Wash your hands if you can. Then press on the cut with a clean, folded cloth, or a bandage, to stop the bleeding.
2. Step 2: Raise It
If it's on your hand or arm, raise it above your head. On a leg, lie down and raise it above your heart.
3. Step 3: Rinse
Once the bleeding stops, rinse the cut with clean tap water. Pat it dry, then clean the skin around it with soap and water, wiping away from the cut.
4. Step 4: Cover It
Cover it with a sterile dressing or a bandage. Keep it clean and dry, and change it when it needs it.
5. See A Doctor Soon If
Get medical advice if it's from a person or animal bite, if dirt won't rinse out, if it's longer than about two inches, or if it gets red, swollen, more painful, or has pus.
6. Get Emergency Help If
Call 911 or go to the ER if the bleeding won't stop, or blood is spurting, if you can't feel or move the area, if it's very deep, on the face or the palm, or if something is stuck in it. Don't pull it out. And don't drive yourself.
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Checked against the official sources above. Steps can change as apps update - tell us if something looks different: wischavenindustries@gmail.com