Dealing with Cuts and Bruises
Cuts and bruises both deal with blood - one an external break in the skin that causes bleeding, the latter being internal clotting as a result of exerted force. Luckily, bruises heal on their own over time and most small cuts can be treated at home.
However, certain cuts may be extremely deep with jagged wound edges, and the area of some bruises may be swollen, raised or painful.
In such an event, you should seek professional help. At Speedoc, we help you simplify and outline the necessary steps you should take to heal your cuts and bruises.
TREATING CUTS
To treat minor cuts at home,
Rinse the cut under cold running water,
Clean the wound with a sterile gauze swab, and
Apply a bandage
Visit your GP if
Sand particles or wooden splinters are found in the cut
An infection develops, causing fever, redness, swelling, pain and pus formation
The cut was caused by a rusty object, animal bite or a puncture wound
Your cut is extremely deep with incessant bleeding.
TREATING BRUISES
To treat your bruises at home,
Elevate the bruise to reduce the swelling and apply an ice pack on the affected area for ten minutes, applying pressure.
Do this every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days.
Visit your GP for assessment if:
Signs of infection appear around the bruised region
These signs include:
Streaks of redness
Pus
Drainage
Fever
The bruises are caused by blows to the head, followed by loss of consciousness or nausea and vomiting.
24/7 GP SERVICES BY SPEEDOC
At Speedoc, we provide GP services around the clock who can check and treat mild conditions. In the event that your condition is severe and requires emergency care, we also provide fast-tracked referrals to the A&E.
