Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Assessing Wound Condition
• Method 2 of 4: Cutting a shallow cut
• Method 3 of 4: Treating a Serious Deep Cut
• Method 4 of 4: Caring for sutures
• Additional articles

Any careless handling of sharp objects can lead to deep cuts, while cutting can be done either with a knife or simply against a sharp corner of an object.Regardless of the cause of a deep cut, it will be painful and bleeding profusely, so an injured person may need immediate medical attention. If you or someone close to you cut yourself, the first step is to assess the severity of the wound and then treat it accordingly.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Assessing Wound Condition

1. 1 Examine the wound. If you can see fat, muscle, or bone in a cut, or if the cut is too far apart and has ragged edges, it is likely that stitches are needed. If you have any doubts when assessing the condition of a wound, it is best to see your doctor or nurse.
   • Signs of the need for immediate medical attention are any of the following symptoms in any combination: severe pain, profuse bleeding, signs of shock (chills, cold skin, sweating, pale skin).
   • You can tell that a cut is deep by looking at fat (yellowish bumpy tissue), muscle (dark red sinewy tissue), or bone (hard white surface).
   • If the cut is superficial and is only a skin damage, then it is not required to sew it up and you can safely handle it at home without going to a doctor.
2. 2 Prepare a serious wound for a trip to the emergency room. If you think your wound needs emergency medical attention, there are a number of preparatory steps you need to take before going to the emergency room. Rinse the wound quickly to remove dirt and debris. Then apply a clean cloth or bandage to the cut and continue to squeeze the wound all the way to the emergency room.
   • The traumatologist will re-clean your wound and thoroughly disinfect it.
   • If the wound is large and bleeding heavily, try to wrap a towel or bandage around it harder and continue squeezing.
3. 3 Do not try to clean and clamp the wound with the available household products. Do not remove any objects from the wound that cannot be flushed out of the wound with water. If glass or other debris is stuck in the wound, you can do more harm than good if you try to remove it yourself. Also, do not try to sew or glue the edges of the wound yourself, as ordinary household products are not intended for this purpose and can cause wound infection and / or lengthen recovery from injury. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine to cleanse the wound, as this may slow down the healing process.
4. 4 Get to the emergency room in a safe way. If possible, do not drive yourself as this can be dangerous. If you are alone and your wound is bleeding profusely, you need to call an ambulance.

Method 2 of 4: Cutting a shallow cut

1. 1 Cleanse the wound. Wash thoroughly with soap and water for 5-10 minutes. To do this, you need clean water and any kind of soap. Research has shown that it doesn't make much of a difference when washing a cut whether you use an antibacterial solution like hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial soap.
   • The main thing is to rinse the wound abundantly. If indelible debris, a shard of glass, or other object remains in the wound, or if the injury was caused by a dirty, rusty object or an animal bite, you should seek medical attention.
2. 2 Compress the wound to stop bleeding. When the wound is clean, press a clean cloth or gauze pad onto it for 15 minutes. You can also slow down bleeding by raising the injured area above the level of the heart.
   • If the cut continues to bleed afterwards, you should call an ambulance.
3. 3 Cover the wound. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the cut and wrap it in a bandage. Keep the wound clean by changing the dressing once or twice daily until it heals.
4. 4 Watch for signs of wound infection. If you develop symptoms of infection, see your trauma specialist. These include redness around the wound, wound suppuration, increased soreness, or fever.

Method 3 of 4: Treating a Serious Deep Cut

1. 1 Call an ambulance on your own or with someone's help. For deep cuts, it is very important to call an ambulance as soon as possible. If you and the wounded person have no one to help before the arrival of the medical staff, then while waiting for the ambulance, you should try to take control of the heavy bleeding on your own.
2. 2 If you are helping an injured person, wear gloves. You need to create a barrier between your skin and the blood of the injured person. Latex gloves will protect you from the transmission of any disease through the victim's blood.
3. 3 Check the severity of the wound and the condition of the victim. Remember to check your breathing and pulse. If possible, ask the person to lie down or sit down so that they do not strain and try to relax.
   • Examine the wound. If clothing is hiding the wound, carefully cut it off.
4. 4 Assess the degree of the present danger to life. If there is profuse bleeding from a wound on a leg or arm, ask the victim to lift the injured limb. Keep it in this position until the bleeding stops.
   • Shock can also be life threatening. If the victim is in shock, try to warm him up and help him relax as much as possible.
   • Do not try to remove an object stuck in it (for example, a shard of glass) from a wound unless you have received appropriate training; removing an item may increase bleeding if the item itself is currently blocking it.
5. 5 Bandage the deep cut. Dress the wound with a clean, lint-free material. The dressing should apply pressure directly to the wound.
   • If you don't have bandages on hand, a compression bandage can be made from clothing, cloth, rags, and so on. If you have a bandage, you should wrap it tightly around the wound. At the same time, you should not tighten the bandage too tight, you should still be able to slip two fingers under it.
6. 6 If the first dressing is soaked in blood, place a second dressing over the first. Do not try to remove the first bandage as this will disturb the wound.
   • Leave the first bandage on. This will keep the clotting blood clots in place, preventing increased bleeding from the wound.
7. 7 Monitor the victim's breathing and pulse. Cheer up the injured person until the ambulance arrives (in severe cases) or until the bleeding stops (in less severe cases). You should call an ambulance if the cut is severe and / or you are having trouble stopping the bleeding from the wound.
8. 8 Get further medical attention. For example, if the cut was deep or dirty, a tetanus shot may be needed. Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that can cause paralysis and death if left untreated. In most cases, people get tetanus prophylaxis every few years.
   • If your wound has come in contact with bacteria and comes from a dirty or rusty object, it is important to get a booster shot of tetanus to prevent infection. You can ask your doctor about this in more detail!

Method 4 of 4: Caring for sutures

1. 1 Let the medical staff put stitches or staples on you. If your cut is deep, wide, or ragged, your doctor may decide to use stitches or staples to heal properly. Before stitching the wound with threads or staples, your doctor will pre-clean it and give you local anesthesia. After the stitches are applied, you will be bandaged.
   • When suturing, a sterile surgical needle and suture is used to join the edges of the wound. The thread can be either soluble (absorbed over time) or insoluble (in this case, after the wound has healed, the sutures will need to be removed).
   • When suturing a wound with a surgical stapler, insoluble staples are used, so they also have to be removed later.
2. 2 Take proper care of the wound. It is very important to properly care for the sutures so that the wound heals as soon as possible and does not become inflamed. To do this, follow the recommendations below.
   • Try not to get the stitches wet and keep them under a bandage for several days. Your doctor will tell you the exact time of wearing the bandage. Usually this period is 1-3 days, depending on the type of suture and the size of the wound.
   • When you cannot avoid getting the wound wet (for example, in the shower), gently wash the seam with soap and water. Do not immerse the entire wound in water (which is possible when taking a bath or swimming). Excess water can slow the healing process and trigger inflammation.
   • After bathing, blot moisture from the wound and apply antibiotic ointment. Then apply a bandage to the wound, unless otherwise advised by your doctor.
3. 3 Avoid activities and sports that may disturb the wound for at least 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will tell you the exact time. If you are not careful, the stitches may come apart and the wound will open. In this case, you will have to see a doctor again.
   • If you develop signs of wound infection (fever, redness, swelling, pus), you should also seek medical attention.
4. 4 Visit your doctor again after the wound has healed. Insoluble sutures and staples are usually removed 5-14 days after application. After removing the stitches, remember to protect the injured area from the sun with sunscreen or simply hide the scar under your clothing. Ask your doctor for advice on lotions and creams that will best help you further heal your scar.

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