How to first aid for a knife cut at home. Cuts, such as cuts with a knife when cutting food, can be painful and can lead to infection if not treated properly. For that, you must first know what kind of incision can be handled alone.
How to Cuts Can Be Treated At Home
Wounds can come from anywhere, including during activities such as cooking. When cooking, usually a person often experiences cuts on his fingers due to being cut by a knife.
How Shallow incision wounds can be treated independently. The following are the steps for wound care that can be done at home:
- Wash hands with clean water and soap before cleaning the wound.
- Wash the wound with clean running water. If the incision is large or long, do not use a disinfectant or antiseptic solution (hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or povidoine iodine) to clean the wound, as these solutions can damage and irritate the skin.
- Press the wound with a clean cloth or sterile gauze, and position the injured body part higher than the chest to control bleeding and swelling.
- If the wound is large enough, cover it with sterile gauze and a bandage. As for small wounds, just leave them open until they heal by themselves. Some Aloe vera gel can be applied to a shallow cut to speed up healing.
- You can use a packaged aloe vera gel product or a gel from the inside of a fresh aloe plant that has been cut and thorn removed. To reduce the pain, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol.
- Avoid taking aspirin to relieve pain, because this drug has a risk of causing bleeding.
- If there is bruising or swelling around the wound, apply a cold compress, for example using ice cubes wrapped in a cloth. Remember, avoid placing ice cubes directly on the wound. Press the bruised or swollen area with the compress.
- Keep the wound dry and clean for 5-7 days.
- Avoid scratching or peeling any scars or scabs that form over the wound.
- Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and excessive stress during wound healing. As these can interfere with and slow down the healing process.
Handle the incision in the right way, and don’t hesitate to go to the doctor if necessary. During the recovery period, calm your mind and take care of your health by eating nutritious foods, getting enough rest and sleep, drinking enough water, and not smoking and drinking alcohol. Do not underestimate the wound that you have as light as any condition. The reason is, open wounds on the skin can be an entry point for bacteria that can cause infections to dangerous infectious diseases.
