A child's natural curiosity and eagerness may result in scrapes
and cuts. Most minor injuries in children are scrapes, in which
the outer layers of skin have been scraped off. The only
treatment required is cleansing. First, rinse the area; then,
wash it with warm water and soap. Antiseptics usually aren't
necessary. Apply antibiotic cream to a large scrape, then cover
with a sterile dressing, either an adhesive bandage or gauze pad
held by adhesive tape. Check it daily and change it at that
time, or if it becomes dirty or wet. If you can't clean a wound
(WOOND) or you notice drainage, tenderness, or redness, or if
the child develops a fever, call a doctor. For more serious
wounds, such as cuts or lacerations that go deeper, you should
first apply direct pressure with clean gauze or cloth for five
minutes, but don't apply direct pressure to broken bones, eye or
head injuries, or wounds that contain embedded objects, which
you shouldn't try to remove. Call your doctor or go to an
emergency room if the lacerati