Sandy Crest Medical Centre - Health Tips

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Puncture Wounds

These are generally caused by sharp narrow objects.

On the day of injury seek medical attention if:

Bleeding does not stop after you have put pressure on it for 10 minutes.

(a) The wound is deep, large, or jagged or it gapes open.
(b) The wound is on the face and you are concerned about scarring.
(c) Around the wound feels numb.
(d) The wound is from an animal or human bite.
(e) There is any possibility that a foreign body remains in the wound
(f) The object went through your shoe or was dirty
(g) It’s more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot.
(h) You are DIABETIC or otherwise immunocompromised

First Aid includes washing the wound thoroughly with warm water and soap. Put pressure on the wound with a bandage or clean cloth until the bleeding stops. After initial treatment keep the wound covered with a clean bandage and change it each day or whenever it becomes wet or dirty, until the skin has healed. This usually takes about a week for minor injuries.