In our kids’ bathroom medicine cabinet, there’s an entire shelf dedicated to various types of bandages. This is because our children are quite accident-prone, often ending up with cuts and scrapes. While they enjoy selecting fun bandages featuring their favorite characters or designs to match their moods, there are instances when an injury requires more attention to heal properly. But how can you determine what kind of care a cut truly needs? If you’re uncertain, you’re not alone. According to OTCSafety.org, one of the most common questions parents ask pediatricians is how to determine if a child requires stitches.
We’ve encountered two situations where it was evident that our three-year-old son needed a trip to the emergency room for stitches. On one evening, just before bedtime, he was rushing through the house on his way upstairs for a bath when he tripped, fell, and hit his head precisely on a sharp corner where two pieces of molding intersected. Once we identified the cut’s location and cleaned away some of the blood, it became evident that it was deep, prompting us to take him to the emergency room. Approximately six months later, he slipped while ascending the stairs and fell chin-first, hitting the hardwood floor. This time, he struck a particularly sensitive part of his chin and required a few stitches. In both cases, the cuts were deep, leaving no doubt that our son needed stitches.
According to OTCSafety.org, we made the right decision by taking him to the emergency room.
If a cut is large or exceptionally deep, stitches may be necessary. It’s essential to have your child’s wound assessed as soon as possible, ideally within a few hours, to reduce the risk of infection and minimize scarring. Significant cuts that involve areas like the hands, face, chest, abdomen, or head can also impact future function and appearance, or they might indicate other underlying injuries to deeper parts of the body. Consequently, it’s advisable to have your child evaluated without delay.
However, sometimes it’s not straightforward to determine a cut’s depth or the most appropriate medical attention required until a doctor assesses it.
I’ve had a scar on my leg since the age of five from a cut I received while playing in the front yard. Occasionally, I wonder whether I should have informed my parents and received stitches. Over the years, the scar has faded, but I distinctly recall tripping in the yard and my ankle bleeding. At the time, the cut seemed slightly deeper than a regular one. I was also eager to continue playing, so I went inside, gathered some cotton and antiseptic to clean the wound, applied a bandage, and returned outside. Fortunately, my wound never became infected, but there likely would have been less scarring (and far fewer bandages used for my bleeding cut!) if I had informed my parents and sought stitches.
As per OTCSafety.org, “minor cuts and scrapes can typically be treated at home. However, there are instances when a doctor’s or hospital visit is necessary. Proper care is crucial as it can reduce the risk of infection and facilitate swift wound healing.
FOLLOW THESE FIVE STRAIGHTFORWARD STEPS TO EFFECTIVELY TREAT YOUR CHILD’S CUT OR SCRAPE:
- If the wound is bleeding, apply direct pressure using a clean bandage or towel until the bleeding stops.
- Examine the wound for any glass, dirt, or foreign materials. Rinse out debris with cool running water or utilize tweezers (cleaned with rubbing alcohol beforehand) to gently remove foreign objects.
- Cleanse the wound with soap and water, using a washcloth to gently scrub away any dirt.
- Following thorough cleaning and drying of the area, apply an antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin or Bactracin, to reduce the risk of infection. Lightly cover the wound with a bandage.
- Avoid using rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or Mercurochrome directly on the wound, as it can increase your child’s discomfort and potentially slow down the healing process.”
