I was never one to blanche at the sight of blood. In fact, I took pride in the fact that while in medical school, even hugely pregnant with my son, I always wanted to scrub into surgeries to get a good look at what was going on.
And then my son was born. The first time I saw his blood I got woozy…that odd phenomenon continues to this day. I’m still fine with the sight of blood, just not those of my children. The swoons surprise me every time.
Yet blood is your body’s number one defense against infection when it comes to an everyday cut or scrape as it flushes out germs and debris.
That being said, it’s also important to properly clean and bandage a cut as soon as possible.
Carefully and thoroughly clean wounds with warm water and soap, working from the inside out and going beyond the actual wound area so that the bandage sits on clean skin. Pat dry the area with a sterile gauze pad and carefully apply antibiotic ointment, and cover with a sterile bandage. When applying a bandage it is crucial not to touch the white pad that covers the cut; it is sterile and touching it would introduce potentially harmful bacteria.
Last, but most definitely not least, give your little one a hug and kiss the boo-boo (but don’t actually touch your lips to the bandage…that area is nice and clean)! Love goes a long way in healing.
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So I have a question. My daughter scratched the back of her leg today and it was too large for a band aid, what should I do? I only cleaned it.
Bandages come in a variety of sizes; some far more generous than others. I try to keep a variety on had for just such an occassion.
If the largest available bandages are still too small, there is always the option of dressing it with sterile gauze and medical tape. These are readily available at most drugstores; you can generally find them in the same aisle as bandages.
I hope this helps!
[...] falling, getting scrapes and bruises. That’s why it’s important to keep this tip from BlissfullyDomestic.com close at hand: Carefully and thoroughly clean wounds with warm water and soap, working from the [...]