- Home
- Parents Home
- Allergy Center
- Asthma Center
- Cancer Center
- Diabetes Center
- A to Z
- Emotions & Behavior
- First Aid & Safety
- Food Allergy Center
- General Health
- Growth & Development
- Flu Center
- Heart Health
- Helping With Homework
- Infections
- Diseases & Conditions
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Play & Learn Center
- School & Family Life
- Pregnancy & Newborn Center
- Q&A
- Sports Medicine Center
- Doctors & Hospitals
- Videos
- Para Padres
- Home
- Kids Home
- Asthma Center for Kids
- Cancer Center for Kids
- Movies & More
- Diabetes Center for Kids
- Getting Help
- Feelings
- Puberty & Growing Up
- Health Problems of Grown-Ups
- Health Problems
- Homework Center
- How the Body Works
- Illnesses & Injuries
- Nutrition & Fitness Center for Kids
- Staying Healthy
- Stay Safe Center
- Relax & Unwind Center
- Q&A for Kids
- The Heart
- Videos for Kids
- Staying Safe
- Kids' Medical Dictionary
- Para Niños
- Home
- Teens Home
- Asthma Center for Teens
- Be Your Best Self
- Cancer Center for Teens
- Diabetes Center for Teens
- Diseases & Conditions (for Teens)
- Drugs & Alcohol
- Expert Answers (Q&A)
- Flu Center for Teens
- Homework Help for Teens
- Infections (for Teens)
- Managing Your Medical Care
- Managing Your Weight
- Nutrition & Fitness Center for Teens
- Safety & First Aid
- School & Work
- Sexual Health
- Sports Center
- Stress & Coping Center
- Videos for Teens
- Body
- Mind
- Para Adolescentes
parents
First Aid: Cuts
Many kids get a cut from falls or using sharp objects like scissors. Some cuts can be safely treated at home. Large, gaping, and deeper cuts — or any wounds that won't stop bleeding — need medical treatment.
What to Do
If the cut is severe and you can't get your child to a hospital right away or must wait for an ambulance, begin this treatment:
- Rinse the cut or wound with water and apply pressure with sterile gauze, a bandage, or a clean cloth.
- If blood soaks through the bandage, place another bandage on top of the first and keep applying pressure.
- Raise the injured body part to slow bleeding.
- When bleeding stops, cover the wound with a new, clean bandage.
- Do not use a .
Get Medical Care if:
- the cut is deep or its edges are widely separated
- the cut continues to ooze and bleed even after applying pressure
- the injury was caused by an animal or human bite, burn, electrical injury, or puncture wound (such as a nail)
Call 911 Right Away
If Your Child:
- has a body part, such as a fingertip, that is cut off. Put the part that was cut off in a sealed plastic bag right away. Put the bag in a container with ice water.
- has a cut and the blood is spurting out and hard to control
- is bleeding so much that bandages are becoming soaked with blood
Think Prevention!
- Childproof so that infants and toddlers are less likely to fall or become injured on table corners, sharp objects, or doors that may slam shut.
- Be sure your kids wear shoes when playing outside.
- Watch teens when they are cutting with sharp knives.
Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD
Date reviewed: July 2018