What is the first treatment for cuts and lacerations?

First aid aims to slow bleeding, remove visible dirt, and reduce further contamination. Apply firm pressure with clean gauze or cloth and keep the injured area raised when practical. Once bleeding is controlled, rinse the wound with clean running water and cover it with a sterile dressing or clean non-fluffy covering.

A clinician checks depth, wound edges, sensation, movement, circulation, and possible damage to tendons, nerves, or a joint. A deep, gaping, contaminated, or facial wound may need wound suturing or another closure method. Tetanus vaccination may be considered according to the injury and immunisation history.

Wash your hands, press continuously on the wound, and replace a soaked covering with another layer rather than repeatedly lifting the first one. Do not pull out a deeply embedded object; pad around it and seek urgent care. After cleaning, change the dressing if it becomes wet or dirty and watch for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or pain.

Seek professional wound care when the cut is deep, its edges stay apart, bleeding continues, or the injury was caused by a bite, dirty object, or crush. Tell the clinician when your last tetanus vaccination was given if you know.

Get emergency help for spurting or uncontrolled bleeding, faintness, a pale or cold limb, loss of sensation or movement, or a wound involving the eye, neck, chest, or abdomen. Seek urgent assessment for a large or deep wound, an embedded object, a bite, or signs of infection such as spreading redness, fever, or worsening swelling.

Ask whether the wound needs closure, how to dress and check it, whether tetanus vaccination is indicated, when stitches or dressings should be reviewed, and which infection signs should bring you back.