We are offering Telehealth appointments. Call the office to book your video or phone appointment today.

Rapid Covid 19 antigen now available. We are also offering Pfizer and Moderna Covid 19 vaccines.

Book an Appointment Now

Mission Clinic | 956-424-7100
Edinburg Clinic | 956-383-9300

Helping Your Child Deal With Cuts

0630665001591627331.jpgChildren receive cuts and other injuries relatively frequently. Their smaller stature prevents them from properly seeing over objects, their bodies are often less coordinated, and they are not fully aware of the potential dangers around them. In fact, the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in children occurs due to falls.

For these reasons, cuts and scrapes are a childhood rite of passage. While your child may never completely avoid a cut or fall during their younger years, you can help comfort your child and assess the damage in the event your child sustains a cut. Here's what to know about your child and cuts.

What to Do if Your Child is Cut

One essential step after your child is injured is immediately comfort them and offer reassurances. A calm reaction on your part is important when a child experiences pain and fear or sees blood. Then take the following steps:

Apply pressure to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Use a tissue, cloth, or your palm. Keep in mind cuts on the face and head bleed more.

Gently clean the cut with soap and water. Do not scrub. Allow water to rinse over the wound to remove dirt and other foreign debris.

Carefully apply an antiseptic or antibacterial cream to the cut. Never use iodine or hydrogen peroxide which damage rather than help skin.

Cover the cut with a soft bandage or gauze to prevent infection. Change the bandage daily to ensure the wound remains dry and clean.

When to Take Your Child to the Emergency Room

Some cuts may require stitches or other help from a doctor. Calmly take your children to the emergency room or seek other medical care when:

  • Bleeding remains heavy and will not stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
  • A cut is near the eye or on the lids
  • Dirt or other debris is deeply imbedded in a cut
  • A cut is longer than a half-inch
  • The edges of a cut are very ragged
  • Your child is cut or bit by an animal or another person

Additionally, you should take your child to your doctor if a cut oozes pus or appears red or swollen and your child has a fever.

What to Expect With Stitches

Remember, only a doctor can tell if stitches are necessary. Stitches hold the edges of a wound together to help it heal more quickly, prevent infection, and minimize scarring. Expect to see your doctor use one of these two methods to help your child's cut heal quickly.

Adhesive

Some physicians use an adhesive on smaller cuts located on a flat surface like the forehead to help them heal better. He or she dabs a bit of the fast-drying glue onto the cut to keep the edges together. Adhesive is relatively fast and painless, and thus is a good choice for young children.

Sutures

These are true stitches that hold a jagged wound closed. Some sutures are meant to remain in a wound and then slowly dissolve away. This type of suture is helpful when children are apprehensive about suture removal. Sutures that must be removed after the wound heals are much stronger and work best for particularly uneven or ragged cuts.

After stitches are in place, your child must keep the site as dry and clean as possible. During this time, take the time to find ways to prevent future falls or other accidents that can lead to cuts. You can discuss additional child-proof safety methods for your home and other preventive measures with a caring pediatrician at Valley Pediatric Clinic. Contact us for more information about children and cuts.

Contact Us

Our Location

Find Us On The Map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Mission Clinic

Monday:

8:30 AM-8:00 PM

Tuesday:

8:30 AM-8:00 PM

Wednesday:

8:30 AM-8:00 PM

Thursday:

8:30 AM-8:00 PM

Friday:

8:30 AM-8:00 PM

Saturday:

8:30 AM-2:00 PM

Sunday:

Closed

Edinburg Clinic

Monday:

8:30 AM-6:00 PM

Tuesday:

8:30 AM-6:00 PM

Wednesday:

8:30 AM-6:00 PM

Thursday:

8:30 AM-6:00 PM

Friday:

8:30 AM-6:00 PM

Saturday:

8:30 AM-1:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed