RV FIRST AID FOR CUTS, SCRAPES & PUNCTURES

Cuts, scrapes, and punctures can all result in bleeding:
Cuts slice the skin open. Close a cut so it won't get infected.
Scrapes hurt only the top part of your skin. They can hurt more than cuts, but they heal quicker.
Punctures stab deep. Leave punctures open so they won't get infected.

You can treat most cuts, scrapes, and punctures yourself. But you should get emergency care if you are bleeding a lot, or if you are hurt very badly. Blood gets thicker after bleeding for a few minutes. This is called clotting. Clotting slows down bleeding. Press on the cut to help slow down the bleeding. You may have to apply pressure for 10 minutes or more for a bad cut. Sometimes a cut needs stitches. Stitches help the cut heal.

FIRST AID:
Leave the bandage on for 24 hours. Change the bandage every day or two or more often if you need to. Be careful when you take the bandage off. You don't want to make the cut bleed again. If you have used gauze, wet it before you pull it off.
Take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve the pain.

For punctures that cause minor bleeding:
Let the wound bleed to clean itself out.
Remove the object that caused the puncture. Use clean tweezers. Hold a lit match to the ends of the tweezers to sterilize them.
Don't pull anything out of a puncture wound if blood gushes from it, or if it has been bleeding badly. Get emergency care.
Wash the wound with warm water and soap.
Leave the wound open. Cover it with a bandage if it is big or still bleeds a little.
Soak the wound in warm, soapy water 2 to 3 times a day.

SEEK CARE IF:
You have not had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years. (5 years for a deep puncture.)
Bleeding in the wound area is getting worse.
You develop a high temperature.
You have signs of infection (pain or soreness, swelling, redness, pus, a bad smell, or red streaks coming from the injured site).
You have numbness or swelling below the wound.
You cannot move the joint below the wound.