Sometimes abrasions, cuts and scratches result in
dire consequences if they aren’t taken care of at the
right time. Children run around the house and drop vases
and other glass material, which can result in scratches
or cuts. Outdoor activities should be supervised
carefully, otherwise abrasions caused by a wall or a
rock is unavoidable. There are slight differences among
the three and most of the time children get them while
playing.
Cuts are caused by sharp objects, which can penetrate
into the skin or damage the skin on the surface.
Scratches are mild form of cuts. They are also caused by
sharp objects such as a piece of glass, thorn or a
knife. Even fingernails can cause a scar. Abrasion is
caused by friction or rubbing of the skin with a rough
surface. Rug burns and board burns are also examples of
abrasion, because they are caused by friction.
Also, in all three cases, the wound can bleed. It bleeds
when the tiny blood vessels located underneath the skin
gets ruptured. Platelets form clot to stop the bleeding
and a scab can also form, which should be pulled out as
that will interfere with the healing process of the
body. If the bleeding isn’t stopping, the wound should
be covered with a soft cloth. After that the wound
should be cleaned using lukewarm water and mild soap.
Antibacterial ointment should be used to clean the wound
and it should be covered with a bandage. The
antibacterial ointment helps kill germs. The bandage
will prevent bacteria from getting within and prevent
the wound from getting bothersome. But the bandage
should be changed everyday and the wound should be kept
dry.
The good thing is that abrasion, cuts and scratches
don’t require any special attention in most cases. But
if the scratch is made by animal claws or abrasion is
caused by a rusty metallic surface, a doctor should be
approached immediately, because the animal could have
rabies and the rust can cause septic. Depending on the
situation, the doctor would prescribe antibiotics,
lotion or even shots. It is also a good idea that
parents make sure that their kid is given tetanus shot
on a regular basis. Sometimes, the wound won’t be caused
in dangerous circumstances, but because of negligence,
the wound will get infected by bacteria. If it the wound
is infected, it will show symptoms such as redness,
swollen skin, and production of puss which can be of the
color yellow or either green.
Cuts can sometimes be too deep and even long. In such
cases, stitches should be certainly opted for. It is a
very simple procedure. The area of the wound is made
numb using some kind of anesthesia. It can either be
injected or simply applied directly. Then the doctor
will sew the cut edges together using certain needle and
thread. If the cut isn’t big enough, the cut is sealed
using a special kind of glue, instead of the stitches.
The glue will hold the edges together so that the skin
underneath will heal and over a period of time, the glue
will dissolve. Kids need to check with the doctor every
week, so that the doctor will be able to analyze the
improvement. And when the wound is completely healed,
the stitches are cut open using scissors and then the
threads are pulled off gently. In majority of the cases,
the wound doesn’t leave behind a scar. This totally
depends on the method and effectiveness of the
treatment.
Tags:
safety
