A cut is one of the more common foot injuries, and they can often be quite bothersome because we use our feet for so many activities. Foot lacerations are more common during the warm summer months, as people often wear sandals or go barefoot. Today, we take a look at how to care for foot cuts and lacerations.
Treating Minor Foot Cuts
In the event that you sustain a small cut on your foot, treatment is pretty straight forward. Start by cleaning and disinfecting the wound with water, hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. Scrap away any visible dirt or debris. Once clean, apply an antiseptic cream or ointment.
Now that you’ve disinfected the wound, the next step is to stop any bleeding. Cover the cut with sterile gauze or a cloth. Most minor cuts stop bleeding within 10 minutes, so keep pressure on the wound until bleeding subsides. Once it’s finished bleeding, apply a bandage to the area. Change your bandage once a day or if the band-aid gets wet. Repeat this process until the wound has fully healed.
Treating Deep Foot Cuts
Treatment of a longer or deeper foot cut is similar, but you’ll want to take extra care with these wounds as they are more severe. If blood is spurting or gushing out of the wound, apply pressure to the cut as quickly as possible. Depending on where the injury occurs, you may have to improvise with your bandage materials. If possible, use a clean cloth to apply pressure, otherwise, use what’s available, like a handkerchief or t-shirt. Continue to apply pressure even if you’ve wrapped the wound.
Assuming you’re with someone at the time of the injury, ask them to drive you to a doctor or foot specialist. If you’re alone, give a friend or a neighbor a call and see if they can drive you. If you want to see how the injury clots before deciding if you should head to the emergency room, lie down and elevate your foot above the level of your heat. By elevating the wound, you’ll slow the flow of blood to that part of your body.
In the event that there’s an object embedded in your foot, or you stepped on a nail, you’ll want to get into a doctor right away. You shouldn’t try to remove the object on your own, as doing so can cause nerve damage or other problems. After your doctor removes the object, he’ll disinfect the area and bandage the wound. After the wound has been treated, you may be prescribed antibiotics. Although your doctor will provide you with care instructions, it’s a good idea to change your dressing once a day, or if the bandage gets wet.