How do you properly treat a cut?

Sharp knives are an essential part of cooking and preparing delicious dishes. Even the most experienced and experienced cooks can get injured with a knife like this within seconds. One time not looking properly or simply slipping off and an unsightly cut has arisen. A small knife cut is sufficient here. Cuts are one of the most common accidents in the home, so it makes sense to know what to do after such an event. But how is a cut treated quickly and correctly and what should be considered when handling food that is lying around? We want to deal with these questions in more detail in this article.

Care of cut wounds at a glance

The condition of the wound is decisive for the correct care of a cut. Both the size of the wound and the part of the body as well as the degree of soiling play a role here. A cut finger is usually safer than a cut in the palm. You should first check to see if there are any dirt particles in the wound that could later lead to inflammation or irritation. These should first be carefully washed off with a little clear and cold water. If no soiling can be seen or if it has already been removed, minor cuts should first bleed out a little. In the case of superficial wounds, the bleeding usually stops on its own after a short time. You can then treat the cut by putting on a plaster if necessary to prevent future contamination until the wound has healed completely. In such a case, you do not need to take any further action.

A deep cut, on the other hand, whose bleeding does not stop by itself, should be treated with a fresh compress or a bandage pack. The corresponding part of the body should then be raised if possible until the bleeding stops. In the event that the bleeding penetrates the bandage and continues to bleed largely unchanged even after a few minutes, you should consult a doctor immediately as a precaution. Heavy bleeding can be an indication of an injury to a blood vessel and should therefore be precisely localized and treated by a doctor. In the case of hardship, sewing or gluing the wound is necessary, which of course you cannot do yourself. A visit to the emergency room is therefore recommended.

Possible side effects and complications

In particular, cuts caused by sharp blades can cause serious damage to the body in addition to skin injuries. While superficial, comparatively light cuts usually only damage the layers of the skin, deeper cuts can injure nerves, tendons, muscles or even vessels at the same time. This can result in impairments in movement or sensation. Surgical interventions and rehabilitation measures are often necessary to restore these damaged muscles or tendons.

Particular caution is also required when working with hot or spicy foods in the kitchen and these spice particles get into the cut. Even if it is usually not visible at first glance, small particles can get into the wound and thus into the organism. If these particles are not recognized in time and removed successfully, they can not only cause skin irritation, but also serious inflammation, which must then be treated with antibiotics. In the worst case, untreated infections can lead to blood poisoning, which is ultimately life-threatening. It is therefore important to keep an eye on the healing process and the development of the wound and to consult a doctor if pain or swelling occurs.