First Aid Tips for Cuts

First aid for cuts

It’s easy to nick a finger or cut yourself while working or enjoying the outdoors. St. John Ambulance, Canada's leader in safety-oriented™ first aid training and high quality products offers this handy first aid guide for cuts.

1. Assess the nature of the injury. Is it contained to the cut or are there other complications?

2. To control severe bleeding, apply direct pressure to the wound by hand as quickly as possible. If the wound is large and wide open, you may have to bring the edges of the wound together first.

3. While keeping pressure on the wound, elevate the injured area – this will reduce blood flow to the wound.

4. Place the casualty at rest. This will help to reduce heart rate and subsequently blood flow and shock.

5. Quickly cover the wound with dressings, preferably sterile, and continue direct pressure over the dressings.

6. Before applying a bandage to the wound, check for circulation below the injury. Blood flow may have been interrupted.

7. Bandage the injury using techniques as outlined by approved first aid programs, such as those taught by St. John Ambulance.

8. After bandaging, check circulation below the injury again to ensure blood flow has not been restricted by bandaging. If necessary, loosen the bandage enough to improve circulation.

9. If the dressings become blood soaked, don’t remove them, add more and continue pressure. Removing the dressings may disturb blood clots and expose the wound to further contamination.

10. For severe bleeding, always seek medical attention.

Don’t let injury dampen your outdoor fun. Learn first aid from the proven professionals at St. John Ambulance, Canada’s leader in first aid training and products for more than 100 years. For more information, contact the St. John Ambulance branch nearest you or visit our web site, www.sja.ca.

- News Canada

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