If blood is oozing from the cut, then follow these steps:
- Wash the wound with soap and water. There are all kinds of disinfectant products, but nothing works better than plain old soap and warm water. Be sure to wash the cut while it’s still bleeding! You don’t want to clean the site after you stop bleedingĀ because that will wash away the scab and start the bleeding over again.
- Encourage the blood to ooze out of the cut for a few minutes. As long as the blood isn’t pouring out like a garden hose (see the part about emergencies above), then you should squeeze out a little extra. A little bleeding actually helps to flush out any bacteria that can cause infection. Next, squeeze out the blood under running water over the sink.
- Then control the bleeding. Put a gauze bandage, a towel, or similar cloth material over the cut and apply pressure until the bleeding stops. Elevating the finger will help, as well.
- If the person with the cut feels weak or dizzy, call 911 andĀ treat for shock. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, but it’s still probably not life-threatening. Some people pass out from pain or the sight of blood. And before they pass out, they feel weak or dizzy. Have them lie down before they fall.