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7. Apply an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly. Apply it with a sterile cloth or cotton swab. Don’t use mercurochrome, hydrogen peroxide, merthiolate, iodine, or Campho-Phenique®. All of these can slow down healing.

8. Put one or more bandages on the cut.

• Put the bandage across the cut so it can help hold the cut together.
• The sides of the cut should touch, but not too tightly.
• Don’t touch the cut with your hand.
• You can use a butterfly bandage if you have one.
• Use more than one bandage for a long cut.
• For scrapes, make a bandage from gauze and first-aid tape.

10. Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain, if he or she needs it. Make sure you give the right kind and dose for your child’s weight. (Note: Do not give aspirin. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome.)

11. Has your child had all of his or her shots? Call the doctor right away if your child’s tetanus shot is not up to date. Ask the doctor if your child needs a shot. If your child doesn’t have a doctor, call your local health department.

Punctures That Bleed a Little

1. Let the cut bleed to clean itself out.

2. Take out anything stuck in the cut. Use clean tweezers. Hold a lit match to the ends of the tweezers to make them sterile. Let them cool and wipe the ends with sterile gauze. (Note: Don’t pull anything out of the cut if it has been bleeding badly or if it is near a big blood vessel. Call 9-1-1.)

3. Clean the wound area with warm, soapy water 2 to 4 times a day. Dry it well.

4. When the wound is clean and dry, put a first-aid cream or ointment on it. Use one that says “antibacterial.”