First Aid at Home: How to Care for Minor Cuts, Burns and Sprains

A slip in the kitchen, a twisted ankle on the stairs or a scraped knee in the garden: minor injuries are part of everyday life. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can ease pain, prevent infection and help you heal faster. Just as important is knowing when an injury is more than minor and needs a doctor's care.

Caring for cuts and scrapes

Wash your hands, then rinse the wound gently under clean running water to remove dirt. Press with a clean cloth or gauze to stop the bleeding, then cover with a sterile dressing. Change the dressing daily and keep the area clean and dry. Watch for spreading redness, warmth, swelling or pus, which can be signs of infection.

Treating minor burns

Cool the burn under cool, not icy, running water for a good while, until the sting eases. Remove rings or tight clothing nearby before swelling starts. Cover loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing. Never use butter, oils or toothpaste, and do not pop blisters, as the skin underneath is healing.

Easing sprains and strains

Rest the injured joint, wrap an ice pack in a cloth and apply it for short periods, support the area with a soft bandage and raise it above heart level when you can. Gentle movement helps once the worst pain settles. If you cannot put weight on it, the joint looks misshapen or pain is getting worse, it needs checking.

Calm hands and clean water solve most small mishaps. Knowing your limits solves the rest.

What to keep in your home first aid kit

Check your kit regularly and replace anything used or out of date:

• Sterile dressings, plasters and gauze
• A soft roller bandage and medical tape
• Saline or clean water for rinsing wounds
• A reusable cold pack and disposable gloves
• Tweezers, scissors and a digital thermometer