How to care for a laceration?

Category: Health

A laceration is an irregular cut on your skin by a sharp object. You may need to visit an emergency room of healthcare clinics in Nashville to treat your lacerations. Based on its causes and how deep your wound is, your doctor will decide on the course of treatment. The purpose is to prevent infection, scars, and possible complications. This blog will discuss ways to treat your laceration wounds and when to seek medical attention. Steps for laceration treatment Often, you can use first aid at home to treat lacerations. However, if it’s a deep cut with no signs of bleeding to stop, you should seek emergency medical treatment. Stay safe The first step in caring for a laceration wound is to keep the injured and the people around them safe. For instance, some cuts can cause heavy bleeding. In such cases, if the injured site comes in contact with other people, it might cause infection. Hence, avoid touching the injured site directly. You will notice that even a healthcare provider will wear disposable gloves when caring for lacerations. Control bleeding Next, you need to take adequate measures to prevent blood loss. To do so, you must apply pressure directly to the wound and lift the injured site to a level of the patient’s heart. You should keep it elevated for about 15 minutes to stop the bleeding. Clean the wound When the bleeding stops, clean the site and the skin around it. You can use mild soap and warm water to clean your wounds. If the bleeding starts again, you must re-apply pressure. Even then, if the bleeding doesn't stop, visit an emergency room immediately. Your wound might need stitches Once the cut is clean and the bleeding stops, your doctor will check whether it needs stitches. Ideally, a deeper or longer cut needs stitches. For instance, if your cut shows bones, muscles, etc., it will need stitches. Stitches help heal lacerations faster. Moreover, it also helps reduce the risk of infection and prevents scarring. Dressing wounds If the cut is small and doesn't need stitches, apply an antiseptic ointment and put a bandage on it. It will keep your wounds clean and prevent infection and scarring. Next, cover the wound with sterile gauze. Check for signs of infection As your wound starts healing, check for signs of infection. As you change the dressing every day, you should clean the wounds. Call your doctor if you notice swelling or pus coming out of your wounds. Manage pain and discomfort It is understandable if your wound hurts a lot. Applying an ice pack to your wound may help. You may take an over-the-counter pain medication to control your pain. Besides, keeping your wound elevated can also help reduce swelling and discomfort. Get shots Sometimes, the object responsible for your cut might be infected with bacteria. In such cases, your doctor may advise getting a tetanus shot to avoid further infections. If you don't clean your cuts immediately or if an animal bite causes it, the risk of tetanus is quite high. Hence, taking shots can be helpful. If your wound gets infected, treat it as an emergency and visit your doctor at a family healthcare clinic in Nashville immediately. In addition, if you notice the following symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. · Swelling, redness, and pain at the injured site · Red streaks near your injury pointing toward your heart · Pus coming out of your wounds · Temperature over 100.4F · Numbness at the site of injury You should not get panicked to notice these symptoms. Instead, call your doctor and follow their advice in treating your lacerations.