Wounds and Injuries

Wounds and injuries are breaks in the skin from cuts, grazes, puncture wounds, bites, burns, or crush injuries. Most small wounds heal well with simple care — but dirty, deep, or contaminated wounds carry a real risk of tetanus, rabies (from animal bites), and infection.

Basic first aid

• Stop bleeding — press firmly with a clean cloth for 10 minutes. Don't keep peeking.
• Clean with running water and soap — not turmeric paste, ash, chuna (lime), coffee powder, or toothpaste. These folk remedies worsen infection and scarring.
• Cover with a clean dressing. Change if wet or dirty.
• Leave small scabs alone — picking delays healing and worsens scars (especially keloids, common in Indian skin).

Tetanus — always check

• Any wound from soil, rust, wood splinters, animal bites, or farm injuries needs a tetanus review.
• If unsure of tetanus status or last dose was > 5 years ago, get a booster within 48 hours — free at any government hospital.
• Infants and children should already be covered by the routine schedule. Adults typically need a booster every 10 years.

Red flags — see a doctor

• Deep cuts, wounds on the face or over joints, or bleeding that won't stop after 10 minutes of pressure.
• Dirty wounds with visible debris, or from rusty metal, farm equipment, water, or animal bites.
• Animal bite (dog, monkey, cat, bat) — wash with soap + running water for 15 minutes, then go immediately for rabies PEP. See the Animal Bites page.
• Signs of infection after a day or two — spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, swelling, or a red streak up the limb.
• Any wound in a person with diabetes — infections spread fast and can lead to serious foot complications. See Diabetic Foot.