Table of contents:
- Steps to deal with open wounds on the fingers
- 1. Stop bleeding
- 2. Clean the wound
- 3. Apply antibiotic ointment
- 4. Put a bandage on
- So, when should I go to the doctor?
Wounds can come from anywhere, including when you are doing activities such as cooking. When cooking, usually a person often gets cuts on his fingers due to knife cuts. Don't panic, you can do the following methods as first aid when your finger has an open wound either because it is cut or due to other things.
Steps to deal with open wounds on the fingers
Here are the steps you need to follow when you have a wound on your finger, namely:
1. Stop bleeding
When cut, cut, sliced, or punctured in your finger, you will definitely bleed. This bleeding can be light because the blood comes out a little or heavy because the blood comes out so much that it spurts. Whatever type of bleeding you need to do is stop it.
If the bleeding is light then you can take a tissue and press the injured area for a few minutes to stop it. However, if the bleeding is heavy, take a clean gauze cloth or towel and press on the injured area until the blood stops flowing completely.
2. Clean the wound
Then, the next step you need to take to treat the wound on the finger is to clean the wound. Wash the injured finger under running water. You can also wash the wound with warm water if possible. Then, clean the wound with soap so that the dirt stuck to the finger is completely gone. Rinse thoroughly and there is no soap residue on the fingers that could irritate the wound.
Quoted from WebMD, do not use products made from hydrogen peroxide and iodine because they can irritate and damage the tissue in the wound.
3. Apply antibiotic ointment
The next step you need to do is apply an antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection. In fact, applying antibiotic ointment is becoming an optional treatment for minor wounds. However, if the wound is deep enough with heavy bleeding, then applying it is a wise choice.
Antibiotic ointment will not make your wound heal quickly. However, it will be very useful to prevent infection that can increase the severity of the wound. When applying antibiotic cream, do not put it on the wound directly from the container. You need to take it with your fingers and apply it so that the ointment content is not contaminated.
4. Put a bandage on
If the wound you have is deep and large then it doesn't hurt to use a bandage. Especially if at that time you have to go outside the house so that it allows the wound to be exposed to dirt from outside. When using bandages or bandages, do not touch the inside of the bandage or tape with your hands. It is feared that this can transfer the dirt on the hands to the bandage that will be used to cover the wound.
When using plaster, for example, remove one side of the protective cover and attach it to your finger. After gluing on one side, remove the other side. That way, the plaster is kept clean.
So, when should I go to the doctor?
Even though the wound you have may seem trivial, you need to go to the doctor immediately when you feel things like:
- The wound was deep and wide open.
- The wound is too dirty or has dirt in the wound that you cannot clean yourself.
- The wound shows signs of infection such as redness, pain to the touch, and pus.
- The area around the wound feels numb.
- The wound is a fairly deep stab and hasn't had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years.
Do not underestimate the wound you have no matter how light it is. The reason is, an open wound on the skin can be an entry point for bacteria that can cause infection to dangerous infectious diseases.
