How do I clean a wound?

A plaster or larger dressing is usually all that is needed to stop a wound bleeding. However, you might need to apply pressure to the area, and if an arm or leg is affected, you should raise it above heart level if possible.

Follow these steps:

wash and dry your hands thoroughly
wear disposable gloves if available
if treating someone else, tell them what you’re doing and make sure they’re sitting or lying down
don’t try to remove anything embedded in the wound – seek medical advice (see below)
rinse the wound under running tap water for 5 to 10 minutes
soak a gauze pad or cloth in saline solution or tap water, or use an alcohol-free wipe, and gently dab or wipe the skin with it – don’t use antiseptic as this may damage the skin
gently pat the area dry using a clean towel or pad of tissues, but nothing fluffy such as a cotton wool ball – strands of material can get stuck to the wound
apply a sterile dressing, such as non-adhesive pad with a bandage, or a plaster – use a waterproof dressing if available
if blood soaks through the dressing, leave it in place and add another dressing, and continue to apply pressure on the wound