How to Give First Aid to Incisions

Cuts, such as those caused by a knife when cutting food, can be painful and can lead to infection if not treated properly. To do this, you first need to know what types of incisions you can handle on your own and which ones your doctor should treat. Depending on the severity, incision wounds are divided into superficial and deep. Shallow incisions cover only the outer layer of skin. While deep incisions can reach more than 1 cm and can affect tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels and even bones.

Wounds can be treated at home Wounds caused by superficial incisions can be treated independently.

The following are wound care steps that can be done at home:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water before cleaning the wound.
2. Rinse the wound with clean running water. If the incision is large or long, do not use antiseptic or antiseptic solutions (hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or povidone-iodine) to clean the wound, as these solutions can injure and irritate the skin.
3. Cover the wound with a clean cloth or sterile gauze and place the injured body part over the chest to control bleeding and swelling. If the wound is large enough, cover it with sterile gauze and a bandage. Minor wounds are left open until they heal on their own.
4. Aloe vera gel can be applied to superficial wounds to speed healing. You can use packaged aloe vera gel or gel from the inside of a fresh aloe plant that has been cut and debrised.
5. To relieve pain, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol. Avoid taking aspirin for pain, as it carries a risk of bleeding.
6. If the wound is bruised or swollen, apply a cold compress, for example using ice cubes wrapped in a cloth. Remember, avoid placing ice directly on the wound. Apply pressure to the bruised or swollen area.
7. Keep the wound dry and clean for 5-7 days. Avoid scratching or peeling any scars or scabs that form on the wound.
8. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and excessive stress during the healing period, because they can interfere and slow down the healing process.

Wounds that need to be treated by a doctor Deep wounds must be treated by a doctor and often require stitches.

In deep wounds, such as those caused by cutting, the subcutaneous layer may be visible and bleed profusely and rapidly, especially if large blood vessels are cut. Seek immediate medical attention at the nearest medical center. Don't wait more than 6 hours, no matter how wide or deep the incision is. Delaying medical treatment for a wound like this can lead to shock from persistent bleeding or severe infection. Apart from deep incisions that require immediate medical attention, there are also some incision conditions that your doctor should pay attention to, including:

1. The wound looks very dirty and difficult to clean. Your doctor may give you the tetanus vaccine and tetanus immune globulin to prevent tetanus, especially if you haven't had the tetanus (TT) vaccine or if you haven't had a TT booster shot in the last 10 years.
2. Wounds caused by scratches or animal bites: Sores are found in vulnerable or sensitive areas, such as the face, scalp, and around the genitals, or in the area around the joint.
3. Wounds are caused by accidents or hard impacts and may have blood stains under the skin that are barely visible. There is a fever, the wound is red and swollen, or there is pus and sores. The wound may be infected and need to be treated by a doctor, for example, in the form of antibiotics.
4. Patients with wounds who have a history of diabetes, blood clotting disorders, are taking blood thinning medications, or are undergoing chemotherapy
5. Excessive bleeding or bleeding that does not stop after being squeezed for more than 10 minutes
6. The pain in the wound does not go away, even after taking painkillers. Numbness around the wound
7. Wounds don't heal for weeks. Handle the incision properly and don't hesitate to consult a doctor if needed. During the recovery period, calm down and take care of your health by eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, not smoking and not drinking alcohol.