Caring for lacerations

Lacerations are made by tearing or caused by strong, short-lasting blunt force. Follow the treatment steps below, which are based on recommendations by the Department of Health of Western Australia:

1. Wash your hands:

“Prior to cleaning or dressing the wound, ensure your hands are washed to prevent contamination and infection of the wound.” ¹

2. Rinse the wound

“Gently rinse the wound with clean, lukewarm water to cleanse and remove any fragments of dirt, e.g. gravel, as this will reduce the risk of infection.” ¹

3. Dry the skin

“Gently pat dry the surrounding skin with a clean pad or towel.” ¹

4. Stop the bleeding:

“Use a clean towel to apply light pressure to the area until bleeding stops (this may take a few minutes).” ¹

5. Cover the wound:

“Use a non-stick or gentle dressing and lightly bandage in place; try to avoid using tape on fragile skin to prevent further trauma on dressing removal.” ¹

6. Manage the pain

Lacerations can be painful. “[…] consider pain relief while the wound heals.  Talk to your GP about options for pain relief.” ¹

When to seek medical advice

“See your doctor or nurse if the wound:

shows signs of infection
continues to bleed
you are unable to realign the skin
has dirt, glass, a thorn or other foreign body in the wound
seems large or deep
is not healing, or is very slow to heal (e.g. not healed after 4 weeks)

Or if:

you have an underlying medical condition
you have another injury or hit your head at the time of the injury (you may have a concussion or fracture)
there is a risk of further injury
you are unsure how to manage the wound, or have any concerns.” ¹

How to deal with loose skin

If (e. g. in case of a scalp laceration) there is a skin flap and it is still attached, carefully return the skin flap as far as possible to its original position over the wound with a moist cotton swab or pad.

Caution: If you are unsure how to manage the wound please seek medical advice.