To treat a minor cut or graze, press on it to stop the bleeding, rinse it clean with water or saline, pat the skin around it dry and cover it with a non-stick dressing. Most small wounds heal well at home with that simple routine. Deep, dirty or gaping wounds, bites and bleeding that won’t stop need medical help.
This first aid guide is part of our common illnesses A–Z, where you’ll find practical advice on everyday health problems.
Cuts, scrapes and grazes: what’s the difference?
healthdirect describes a cut as a neat, straight break in the skin, while a graze (or scrape) is a surface injury that takes off the top layer of skin, often over a larger area. Lacerations are tears in the skin that can be deeper and more ragged.
On the Gold Coast, we see plenty of all three: knees scraped on footpaths and skate parks during the school holidays, feet cut on rocks or shells at the beach, and kitchen knife slips at home. Most are minor, and knowing what to do in the first few minutes makes a real difference.
How to treat a cut: step by step
- Wash your hands. Clean hands help keep germs out of the wound. Use disposable gloves if you’re helping someone else and have them handy.
- Stop the bleeding. healthdirect advises pressing firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or bandage for 5 minutes, or until it stops bleeding.
- Rinse the wound. Rinse it with clean running water or saline (salt water). This is often enough to wash out dirt, sand and germs.
- Remove any debris. Gently remove dirt, gravel or grit with clean tweezers or a clean cloth. Don’t dig around in the wound. If something is stuck deep inside it, leave it and get medical help.
- Consider an antiseptic. The Better Health Channel notes an antiseptic can be used when cleaning a minor wound. Ask your pharmacist which suits you, and follow the label.
- Dry the skin around it. Pat the surrounding skin dry with a clean pad or towel.
- Cover it. Use a non-stick dressing or an adhesive strip to protect the wound while it heals.
- Look after the dressing. Keep it clean and dry and change it as the product directions say, or sooner if it becomes wet or dirty. The Better Health Channel notes some dressings can stay in place for several days.
A note on beach and outdoor wounds
Cuts from rocks, shells, soil, rusty metal or anything dirty are more likely to get infected. Rinse them thoroughly, watch them closely over the next few days, and check whether you’re up to date with your tetanus vaccination (more on that below).
Signs your cut might be infected
Most minor wounds get a little red and sore at first, then steadily improve. healthdirect lists these signs of infection:
- redness or swelling around the wound that’s spreading or getting worse;
- the area feeling hot;
- pus or oozing;
- pain that’s getting worse instead of better;
- a high temperature (fever);
- a wound that isn’t healing after about 5 days.
The Better Health Channel also mentions an unpleasant smell. If you notice any of these, see a doctor promptly.
Do I need a tetanus shot?
Tetanus is a serious infection that can enter the body through cuts and wounds, especially dirty ones. healthdirect advises seeing a doctor within a day about a tetanus vaccine if:
- it’s been more than 10 years since your last tetanus vaccination; or
- it’s been more than 5 years and the wound is dirty or deep; or
- you can’t remember when you last had one (healthdirect suggests seeing a doctor within a few hours in this case).
Our pharmacists can talk to you about your options, and you can read more about vaccinations at our pharmacy.
What to keep in your first aid kit
Our pharmacy stocks everything you need for minor cuts and scrapes. A basic kit for home, the car or the beach bag might include:
- disposable gloves;
- sterile saline tubes or sachets for rinsing wounds;
- an antiseptic suitable for wounds;
- non-stick dressings in a few sizes;
- adhesive strips, including waterproof ones;
- gauze and a roll of hypoallergenic tape;
- a crepe bandage;
- clean tweezers and small scissors.
How your pharmacist can help
You’re welcome to show us a cut or graze. Our pharmacists can:
- check whether it can be managed at home or needs a doctor;
- help you pick the right dressing for where the wound is, such as fingers, knees or heels;
- suggest wound care options for sensitive skin or children;
- advise on caring for a wound while swimming or in the humid heat.
If you need a doctor to look at a wound, the Help Medical GPs inside our store are close by.
When to see a GP or get urgent help
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Severe or spurting bleeding, or bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure | Call 000 |
| An object sticking out of the wound | Call 000. Don’t remove it. |
| The person faints, loses consciousness or has chest pain | Call 000 |
| A deep or gaping wound that may need stitches | See a doctor within a few hours |
| A human or animal bite | See a doctor within a few hours |
| A wound on or near the eye, or over a joint | See a doctor within a few hours |
| A dirty wound, or you’re unsure of your tetanus status | See a doctor within a few hours |
| Signs of infection | See a doctor promptly |
These timeframes are based on healthdirect’s guidance. If you’re ever unsure how serious a wound is, it’s better to get it checked.
Talk to our pharmacists at Pacific Fair
Whether it’s a grazed knee from the skate park or a cut foot from the beach, our pharmacists can check it and help you choose the right dressings. Pop in, with no appointment needed. Find us on the ground floor of Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, open 7 days (until 9pm Thursdays), or call (07) 5592 2099.
Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey (BPharmSci, MPharm), Pharmacist.
Sources
This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.