First aid and care for broken skin

Posted by Master, Doctor Pham Khac Tiep - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Skin tear is a common accident in daily life. Especially common in children due to their hyperactivity and curiosity to explore. Wounds can be caused by a fall, a knife cut, an animal bite... Proper first aid will help stabilize the wound and recover faster.

The first step in the first aid procedure for a torn skin wound is to stop it bleeding: Apply pressure directly to the wound site with your hand or gauze.
Follow up with cleaning the wound:
Clean the area with warm water and mild soap. Alcohol should not be used to clean the wound, as this may delay healing. An antibiotic ointment can be applied to reduce the risk of infection. Some children may develop a rash when antibiotic ointment is applied. If this happens, stop using the medicine right away. Then, place a sterile bandage over the wound site and cover it.

Most lacerations can be done at home and wait for them to heal completely, however, in some cases the patient needs to go to the hospital, specifically:
The wound is bleeding heavily Bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes of strong pressure on the wound site Deep wound or on a joint You cannot clean the wound The wound is caused by a person or animal bite

For minor wounds, change the dressing daily. After a few days, if the wound has dried, you may not need a bandage. However, the patient needs to be re-examined at the hospital if the wound does not heal or shows signs of infection.
Signs of wound infection that can be experienced include:

Red fever, swelling, warmth, or increased pain around the wound Pus from a cut or scrape Red halos on the skin around the wound Piercing wounds have a higher risk of infection Most minor injuries cause little bleeding, eg cuts or scrapes are usually not serious. However, if a major artery or vein is ruptured, such as the jugular vein in the neck, there is a risk of severe, even life-threatening bleeding. Therefore, timely first aid for bleeding wounds will contribute to saving the injured person's life. Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern facilities, medical equipment and a team of experts and doctors with many years of experience in medical examination and treatment, patients can rest assured to visit. and treat skin wounds at the Hospital.