Caring for Cuts, Grazes and Burns at Home

Short answer: Press firmly on a bleeding wound with a clean cloth, rinse it well with clean running water, then cover it with a clean dressing and change it daily. For a burn, cool it under cool running water for 20 minutes. Come in if a wound is deep or gaping, won't stop bleeding, or shows signs of infection.

Cuts and grazes

1. Wash your hands.
2. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth for 10 minutes, and raise the injured part if you can.
3. Rinse under clean running water, or boiled and cooled water, to wash out dirt. Clean the skin around it with soap.
4. Cover with a clean dressing or plaster.
5. Change the dressing every day, or sooner if it gets wet or dirty.

Don't put ash, soil, herbs, sugar or coffee on a wound.

Signs of infection

• Redness or swelling that spreads
• Pus or a bad smell
• Pain that gets worse instead of better
• Fever or feeling unwell

Come in for stitches or a tetanus jab if

• The edges gape open, or the wound is deep or on the face, hands or a joint
• Bleeding doesn't stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure
• Dirt or an object is stuck in it (don't pull out large objects)
• It came from a rusty object, shamba soil or an animal bite. See dog bites and rabies
• You haven't had a tetanus booster in the last 5–10 years, or don't know

Wounds that need stitches should be closed early, so come in within hours.

Burns

• Cool under cool running water for 20 minutes. Don't use ice.
• Remove rings, watches and tight clothing near the burn, unless stuck to it.
• Cover loosely with clean cling film or a clean, non-fluffy cloth.
• Never apply butter, toothpaste, oil or eggs, and don't burst blisters.
• Come in for burns larger than the person's palm, burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints, any burn in a baby or young child, and all electrical or chemical burns.

We're open 24 hours at Maili Sita for wound care and minor procedures; for heavy bleeding or a serious burn, call 999 or 112 or come straight in.