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CHAPTER 14             FIRST AID
                                                         Cuts And Bleeding




                                            1.            blood                    2.           blood clot                3.              scab
            Your body has lots of
            different ways of healing
            itself. If you damage your
            skin and start to bleed, your     platelets              skin                                                               new skin
            body can usually stop the
            bleeding by 'plugging the
            hole'.
                                            The skin is cut and blood               Platelets in the blood clump           The blood clot dries into a scab.
            Here's how...                   pours out.                              together around the cut. This is       The scab protects the wound until
                                                                                    the start of a blood clot or plug.     new skin has grown.

            a. Treating Small Wounds                                Although your body can often heal itself, first aid can give nature a helping


                                                                    hand. If a cut or wound is looked at straight away, it is unlikely to bleed for
                                                                    long or become infected.

             1. Before you do anything else,                  2. If the wound is                               3. Gently pat the wound
                 wash your hands in soap                          dirty, clean it by                               dry, with a clean tissue.
                 and warm water. If gloves                        rinsing it under
                 are available, put them on.                      cold running
                                                                  water from a tap.





             4. Leave the wound covered for a second          5. Pat the wound area dry.
                 or two whilst you clean the skin                 Put on a sticking-plaster
                                                                                                                                   Remember, always
                 around the wound –                               if you have one.
                                                                                                                                   pull back the protective
                 not the wound itself
                                                                                                                                   strips on the plaster
                 – with soap and water.
                                                                                                                                   without touching the
                 Use clean tissues for this.                                        dressing-pad
                                                                                                                                   dressing-pad.



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