🩹 How to Treat a Cut or Graze

Minor cuts and grazes are among the most common injuries, whether it’s from a kitchen slip, a fall outdoors, or a scrape at work. Knowing how to treat them properly helps prevent infection and promotes faster healing.

Step-by-Step: How to Treat a Minor Cut or Graze

1. Wash your hands
   Before touching the wound, wash your hands with soap and water to avoid introducing bacteria.

2. Stop any bleeding
   Most small cuts or grazes stop bleeding on their own. If not, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or sterile dressing for a few minutes.

3. Clean the wound
   Rinse the area under clean running water to remove dirt or debris. Avoid using antiseptic creams directly inside the wound — they can damage tissue. Pat dry gently with a clean towel or gauze.

4. Apply a dressing or plaster
   Cover the wound with a sterile adhesive dressing or plaster to keep out bacteria and protect it from further knocks. Change it daily, or sooner if it becomes wet or dirty.

5. Monitor for signs of infection
   Check the area for redness, swelling, pain, or discharge. If any of these appear, or if the wound doesn’t heal within a few days, seek medical advice.

6. Let it breathe when healing
   Once the wound starts to close and has its own cover (scab), you can remove the plaster to allow air circulation — this often speeds up recovery.

When to Seek Medical Help

Get professional help if:

• The bleeding won’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure

• Its more than 3 cm deep or long

• The wound is deep, dirty, or caused by rusty metal (you may need a tetanus shot)

• There’s glass or debris stuck in the wound

• Signs of infection appear (pus, heat, redness spreading)

• The person’s immunisations aren’t up to date

Quick Tips for Everyday Safety

• Keep a first aid kit stocked with plasters, sterile dressings, and cleansing wipes.

• For children, use colourful waterproof plasters to make them less intimidating.

• Avoid using cotton wool directly on wounds — fibres can stick and irritate healing skin.

• Don’t pick scabs; they protect the new skin forming underneath.

Learn More with DAC Education

Everyday injuries are easy to manage when you have the right skills and confidence. Our First Aid courses teach practical wound care, infection prevention, and life-saving skills you can use at home, at work, or outdoors.

👉 View our Upcoming First Aid Courses
(Delivered at our Suffolk HQ or on-site for groups of six or more.)

Disclaimer

This guide offers general first aid advice. Always seek professional medical help if you’re unsure, if the wound is severe, or if symptoms worsen.