If you don’t have water, an antibacterial cleanser will do the trick in a pinch. Water is better, but the important thing is to keep your hands clean to avoid infecting the wound. If disposable protective gloves are available, go ahead and use them. They aren’t necessary, but anything to help prevent infection is a good idea.
Washing the cut is also important because it will let you see how big it is. If it is especially large or deep, contact a doctor before trying to apply a bandage on your own. [3] X Research source
If the cut is really small, a tissue might be enough to soak up the blood. If you can get a clean cloth, though, that is better. Don’t pull off the cloth or gauze to check on the wound until the bleeding has definitely stopped. That can cause the bleeding to restart. If blood starts to seep through, and the cloth or gauze has gotten soaked, don’t remove it from the cut. Simply add more on top, and keep up the pressure.
If you don’t have any antibiotic ointment, use petroleum jelly instead to help prevent an infection. Some people are allergic to certain ointments, which cause a mild rash to appear on the skin. If the person starts to get a rash, stop using the ointment.
Make sure your bandage covers the entire wound. If there are parts that the bandage can’t cover, use another one. If the wound is a scrape or scratch, and hasn’t broken the skin or drawn blood, you don’t need to apply a bandage.
Don’t pull off the cloth or gauze to check on the wound until the bleeding has definitely stopped. That can cause the bleeding to restart. If blood starts to seep through, and the cloth or gauze has gotten soaked, don’t remove it from the cut. Simply add more on top, and keep up the pressure.
If you do find something, don’t use your fingers to remove it. Instead, a pair of tweezers cleaned in rubbing alcohol should be enough to get out bits that won’t wash away. Be careful not to poke in the wound. Reaching your finger, or the tweezers, or anything else into the puncture wound will only make it worse.
If the cut continues to bleed, cover it with a bandage. Change the bandage often to help drain and clean your wound. You should also contact your doctor for additional treatment or if you notice signs of infection, such as redness, pain, or swelling around the wound.
