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Signs
and
Symptoms:
- Cuts
-
Cuts
slice
the
skin
open.
This
causes
bleeding
and
pain.
- Scrapes
-
Scrapes
are
less
serious
than
cuts,
but
more
painful
because
more
sensitive
nerve
endings
are
involved.
- Punctures
-
Punctures
are
stab
wounds.
- Bruises
-
Bruises
are
caused
by
broken
blood
vessels
that
bleed
into
the
tissue
under
the
skin.
- Burns
-
Burns
can
be
caused
from
dry
heat
(fire),
moist
heat
(steam,
hot
liquids),
electricity,
chemicals,
and
the
sun
(sunburn).
- 1st
degree
burn,
your
skin
will
be
red,
swollen,
painful,
and
sensitive
to
touch.
- 2nd
degree
burn,
the
outer
and
lower
skin
layers
are
affected.
Your
skin
will
be
painful,
swollen,
red,
blistered,
and/or
be
weepy/watery.
- 3rd
degree
burn,
your
skin
will
be
black
and
white
and
charred.
You
will
have
less
pain
because
the
nerves
have
been
destroyed.
- Animal
and
Human
bites
-
Pain
and
bleeding.
Rabies
can
result
if
the
bite
was
from
a
warm-blooded
animal
who
was
infected
with
the
rabies
virus.
[Go
to
Self-Care
Prevention]
Still
not
sure?
Ask
yourself
with
these
questions.
1.
Do
the
following
signs
of
shock
occur
with
an
injury?
- Pale
or
blue-colored
lips,
skin,
and/or
fingernails
- Cool
and
moist
skin
- Weak,
but
fast
pulse
- Rapid,
shallow
breathing
- Weakness,
trembling,
restlessness,
confusion
- Difficulty
standing
or
inability
to
stand
due
to
dizziness
- Loss
of
consciousness
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
2.
Does
an
animal
bite
cause
severe
bleeding
or
severely
mangled
skin
or
has
a
human
bite
punctured
the
skin?
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
3.
Do
any
of
the
following
describe
the
injury?
- There
is
a
severe
bleeding
or
blood
spurts
from
the
wound.
(Apply
direct
pressure
on
the
wound
site
while
seeking
care.)
- Bleeding
continues
after
pressure
has
been
applied
to
the
wound
for
more
than
10
minutes
or
bleeding
continues
after
20
minutes
of
applied
pressure
to
what
seems
to
be
a
minor
cut.
- A
deep
cut
or
puncture
appears
to
go
down
to
the
muscle
or
bone
and/or
is
located
on
the
scalp
or
face.
- A
cut
is
longer
than
an
inch
and
is
located
on
an
area
of
the
body
that
bends,
such
as
the
elbow,
knee,
or
finger.
- The
skin
on
the
edges
of
the
cut
hangs
open.
- A
burn
(3rd
degree)
results
in
charred
black
and
white
skin,
little
or
no
pain,
and
exposure
of
tissue
under
the
skin.
- A
burn
(2nd
degree)
causes
painful,
swollen,
and
red
skin
with
blisters
that
cover
more
than
10
square
inches
of
skin
area
or
is
on
the
face,
hands,
feet,
genitals,
or
any
joint.
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
4.
Was
the
bite
from
a
pet
that
has
not
been
immunized
against
rabies
or
from
an
animal
known
to
carry
rabies
in
your
area?
(Check
with
your
local
health
department,
hospital,
or
emergency
department
if
you
are
not
sure.)
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
get
immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
5.
A
day
or
two
after
the
skin
injury,
do
one
or
more
of
these
signs
of
an
infection
occur?
- Fever
- Redness
or
red
streaks
that
extend
from
the
wound
site
- Swelling,
increased
pain,
or
tenderness
at
and
around
the
wound
site
- Increased
pain
- General
ill
feeling
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
6.
Was
the
cut
or
puncture
from
dirty
or
contaminated
objects,
such
as
rusty
nails
or
objects
in
the
soil
or
did
a
puncture
go
through
a
shoe,
especially
a
rubber-soled
one?
(Note:
you
will
need
a
tentanus
shot
if
you
have
not
had
one
within
5
years
(for
a
major
wound)
or
if
you
had
not
had
one
in
the
last
10
years
(for
a
minor
wound).)
If yes to
one
of
these
symptoms
described
above, please
see
your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on
to
the
next
question.
7.
With
a
skin
injury,
are
any
of
the
following
conditions
present?
If no to
all
questions,
use
self-care
prevention.
Self-Care
Prevention
For
Human
Bites
before
Immediate
Care:
- Wash
the
wound
area
with
soap
and
water
for
at
least
5
minutes,
but
don't
scrub
hard.
- Rinse
the
wound
area
with
running
water
or
with
an
antiseptic
solution,
such
as
Betadine.
- Cover
the
wound
area
with
sterile
gauze,
taping
only
the
ends
in
place.
For
minor
cuts
and
scrapes:
- Clean
the
wound
thoroughly
with
soap
and
water.
- Press
on
the
cut
to
stop
the
bleeding
for
up
to
10
minutes.
Use
sterile
gauze
or
a
clean
cloth.
Don't
use
dry
gauze.
It
can
stick
to
the
wound.
Don't
use
a
bandage
to
apply
pressure.
- If
still
bleeding,
lift
the
part
of
the
body
with
the
cut
higher
than
the
heart,
if
practical.
- After
the
bleeding
has
stopped,
and
when
it
is
clean
and
dry,
apply
a
first
aid
cream.
- Put
one
or
more
bandages
on
the
cut.
The
edges
of
the
cut
skin
should
touch,
but
not
overlap.
Use
a
butterly
bandage
if
you
have
one.
- For
scrapes,
make
a
bandage
from
gauze
and
first
aid
tape.
Leave
it
on
for
24
hours.
Change
the
bandage
at
least
every
day
or
two.
Keep
the
bandage
clean
and
dry.
For
punctures
that
cause
minor
bleeding:
- Let
the
wound
bleed
to
cleanse
itself.
- Remove
the
object
that
caused
puncture.
Use
clean,
sterile
tweezers.
To
sterilize
them,
hold
a
lit
match
or
flame
to
the
ends
of
the
tweezers.
(Note:
Don't
pull
anything
out
of
a
puncture
wound
if
blood
gushes
from
it
or
it
has
been
bleeding
badly.
Get
emergency
care!)
- Soak
the
wound
in
warm,
soapy
water
2
to
4
times
a
day
for
several
days.
After
soaking
it,
dry
the
wound
area
well
and
apply
an
antibiotic
cream,
such
as
Neosporin.
For
Bruises:
- Apply
a
cold
pack
to
the
bruised
area
as
soon
as
possible
and
within
15
minutes
of
the
injury.
Keep
the
cold
pack
on
for
10
minutes
at
a
time.
Apply
pressure
to
the
cold
pack.
Take
it
off
for
30
to
60
minutes.
Repeat
several
times
for
2
days.
- Rest
the
bruised
area
and
raise
it
above
the
level
of
the
heart,
if
practical.
- Two
days
after
the
injury,
use
warm
compresses.
Do
this
for
20
minutes
at
a
time.
- Do
not
bandage
a
bruise.
- Try
to
avoid
hitting
the
bruised
area
again.
For
First-Degree
Burns:
- Immerse
the
affected
area
in
cold
(not
ice)
water
until
the
pain
subsides.
If
the
affected
area
is
dirty,
gently
wash
it
with
soapy
water
first.
- Keep
the
area
uncovered
and
elevated,
if
possible.
Apply
a
dry
dressing,
if
necessary,
to
protect
the
area
from
dirt,
etc.
- Do
not
use
butter
or
ointments,
such
as
Vaseline.
You
can,
though,
apply
aloe
vera
3
to
4
times
a
day.
- Don't
use
local
anesthetic
sprays
and
creams.
For
Second-Degree
Burns:
- Immerse
the
affected
area
in
cold
(not
ice)
water
until
the
pain
subsides.
- Dip
clean
cloths
in
cold
water,
wring
them
out,
and
apply
them
to
the
burned
area
for
as
long
as
an
hour.
Blot
the
area
dry.
Do
not
rub.
- Don't
use
antiseptic
sprays
or
creams.
- Do
not
break
any
blisters.
If
the
blisters
break
on
their
own,
apply
an
antibacterial
spray
or
ointment
and
keep
the
area
wrapped
with
a
sterile
dressing.
- Once
dried,
dress
the
area
with
a
single
layer
of
loose
gauze
that
does
not
stick
to
the
skin.
Keep
it
in
place
with
bandage
tape
that
is
placed
well
away
from
the
burned
area.
- Change
the
dressing
the
next
day
and
every
2
days
after
that.
- Prop
the
burned
area
higher
than
the
rest
of
the
body,
if
possible.
For
Animal
Bites:
- Wash
the
bite
with
soap
and
warm
water
for
5
minutes.
If
the
bite
is
deep,
flush
with
water
for
10
minutes.
Dry
the
wound
with
a
clean
towel.
Then
get
immediate
care.
- If
the
wound
is
swollen,
apply
ice
wrapped
in
a
towel
for
10
minutes.
- If
someone's
pet
bit
you
and
you
know
the
owner,
find
out
if
the
pet
has
been
vaccinated
for
rabies.
- Report
the
incident
to
the
animal
control
or
local
health
department.
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