Minor cuts and scrapes are common. They usually happen because of an accident and can be small or large, but they all have things in common: they bleed and hurt. But just because cuts are a part of life, they don’t have to be scary or painful. You can soothe your wound with proper care and attention, and if it gets worse than first aid can handle, you should always seek medical help.

The best way to prepare and have all of the first aid supplies on hand you’ll need for handling a cut is to maintain your first aid cabinets contents. 

Follow these steps for handling the wound. 

Clean the wound.

It is important to clean the wound so you can see how deep it is.

Use soap and water, but don’t scrub the cut. You want just enough water to rinse blood off and around the cut to see how bad it is. Also make sure that your hands are clean before touching the wound (you may want to use gloves). Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on minor cuts because they can irritate the skin around them. You should also avoid iodine or antibacterial soap or antiseptics unless your healthcare provider tells otherwise—these products could damage sensitive tissue in addition to killing germs!

Stop the bleeding.

Once you have cleaned the wound, use a clean towel or cloth to apply pressure to the wound. If that doesn’t work, try using your hand instead.If your wound is small and shallow and you have no access to professional medical help, you can bandage yourself up by applying a square of gauze over it and wrapping it with tape or elastic bandage. To prevent infection from setting in: elevate your wound above heart level; wash hands thoroughly with soap before touching anything else related to first aid procedures; throw away any contaminated objects. 

Protect the wound.

Once the bleeding is under control and you’ve cleaned up the area, you should use a clean bandage to protect the wound from dirt and germs. Remember to avoid wrapping it too tightly, which could force blood out of the cut and into your system, leading to faintness or dizziness. If you don’t have any sterile bandages handy, you could use whatever fabric is available (but avoid using clothing, as this can cause bacteria from sweat to enter the wound.)

Hopefully, this article has helped you to better understand bandages and wound care supplies that can be beneficial for your first aid kit. In fact, they should be a staple part of it. Shop our online selection now.