Many kids get a cut from falls or using sharp objects like scissors. Some cuts can be safely treated at home. Large, gaping, and deeper cuts — or any wounds that won't stop bleeding — need medical treatment. What to Do If the cut is severe and you can't get your child to a hospital right away or must wait for an ambulance, begin this treatment: Rinse the cut or wound with water and apply pressure with sterile gauze, a bandage, or a clean cloth. If blood soaks through the bandage, place another bandage on top of the first and keep applying pressure. Raise the injured body part to slow bleeding. When bleeding stops, cover the wound with a new, clean bandage. Do not use a tourniquet . Get Medical Care if: the cut is deep or its edges are widely separated the cut continues to ooze and bleed even after applying pressure the injury was caused by an animal or human bite, burn, electrical injury, or puncture wound (such as a nail) Call 911 Right Away If Your Child: has a body part, such as a fingertip, that is cut off. Put the part that was cut off in a sealed plastic bag right away. Put the bag in a container with ice water. has a cut and the blood is spurting out and hard to control is bleeding so much that bandages are becoming soaked with blood Think Prevention! Childproof so that infants and toddlers are less likely to fall or become injured on table corners, sharp objects, or doors that may slam shut. Be sure your kids wear shoes when playing outside. Watch teens when they are cutting with sharp knives. Back to Articles Related Articles Household Safety: Preventing Cuts It's important to protect kids from sharp and dangerous items around and outside the home. Here are ways to prevent cuts and other injuries. Read More Dealing With Cuts Find out how to handle minor cuts at home - and when to get medical care for a more serious injury. Read More Cellulitis Cellulitis is a skin infection that involves areas of tissue just below the skin's surface. It can affect any part of the body, but it's most common on exposed areas, such as the face, arms, or lower legs. Read More First Aid: Falls Although most result in mild bumps and bruises, some falls can cause serious injuries that need medical attention. Read More First Aid: Animal Bites Animal bites and scratches that break the skin can cause infection. Rarely, animal bites can cause rabies, a dangerous, life-threatening disease. Read More When Does a Cut Need Stitches? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Cellulitis Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and underlying tissues that can affect any area of the body. It begins in an area of broken skin, like a cut or scratch. Read More Cutting Cutting isn't new, but this form of self-injury has been in the spotlight more in recent years. Learn more about it and ways to help a teen who cuts. Read More Helping Teens Who Cut Cutting isn't new, but this form of self-injury has been in the spotlight more in recent years. Learn more how to help a teen who cuts. Read More Stitches Most kids need stitches at one time or another to help a cut heal properly. Read this article to learn all about stitches and what they do. Read More Skin, Hair, and Nails Our skin protects the network of tissues, muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and everything else inside our bodies. Hair and nails are actually modified types of skin. Read More Cuts, Scratches, and Scrapes Most small cuts, scrapes, or abrasions heal on their own. Here are tips for teens on how to treat cuts at home - and when to get medical help. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.