Wound Care Advice For Children

This leaflet gives you advice about caring for your child’s wound once you have left the Emergency Department.

Minor injuries and cuts are common in children. Scarring will occur to wounds, and may remain red for 6 months or more. You can help the healing process by massaging the wound once the dressing is removed, protecting it from sunlight and further injury

Depending on the location, depth and how your child sustained the injury will depend on the wound care provided.

Wound glue:

This holds the wound edges together for 5 to 10 days and the wound will naturally scab and this will fall off. Your child should not pick or scratch at the glued area, as this may cause the wound to open. The area must be kept clean and dry for 5 days.

Steristrips:

These are strips of sticky paper or plastic that hold the wound edges together to allow healing. The area must be kept clean and dry or they may peel off before the wound is healed. They should be left on for 5 to 7 days. To remove moisten for 10 minutes and carefully peel off.

Sutures (stitches):

Sutures or stitches hold the edges of a wound together allowing healing to take place. The area should be kept clean and dry until the stitches are removed. Depending on the part of the body the stiches will need to be removed after 5-10 days. Arrange an appointment at your child’s GP Practice to remove your child’s sutures.

Wound Care:

Good wound care will help reduce pain, prevent infection, and minimise scarring. Puncture wounds and deep cuts are more likely to become infected than scrapes and abrasions. A dressing maybe used to cover the wound. The nurse or doctor will tell you when this can be removed. Make sure your child keeps any dressing dry. A wet dressing will encourage infection. Do not cover the wound with any plasters or anything waterproof, it will make the wound soggy and more prone to infection and poor healing.

If your child has any of these symptoms:

• Increased redness or swelling around the wound
• Pus-like discharge from the wound
• Increased pain
• Unpleasant smell from the wound
• Heat around the wound
• High temperature

If you have any concerns about the wound, please contact your GP or practice nurse.

Wound infections can be treated successfully especially if we catch them early.

Contact details:
Emergency Department (24 hours) Phone: 01274 364012

You can contact us using the Relay UK app. Textphone users will need to dial: 18001 01274 364012 – 24 hours

For further advice or if you are concerned, contact NHS 111.