MYTHS: Stopping Bleeding From Minor Wounds
• Apply brown sugar
• Apply a paste of flour and vinegar
• Apply dusty cobwebs
• Bind with a leaf of natural tobacco
• Rub in soot from a chimney
• Apply a spread of dried sage leaves
• Apply browned flour
• Apply salt
• Cover with sugar
• Cover with the lining of an egg
• Apply wet tea leaves
• Rub with charcoal
• Apply ink
• Apply vinegar water
MYTHS: Wound Cleaning, Infection Prevention & Healing
Clean with:
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Thimerosal
• Alcohol
Heal or Prevent Infection with:
• Honey
• Lemon juice
• Heat Lamps or Hair Dryers
• Air (leave wound uncovered)
• Paste of sugar and soap
• Paste of lard, beeswax and resin
• Turpentine and salt
FACTS: Stopping Bleeding, Wound Cleaning, &Infection Prevention
The best way to treat minor wounds is to gently wash them with mild soap
and warm water, apply an antibiotic ointment to help prevent skin infection,
and then cover them with a bandage to keep them moist, which helps
minimize scarring. Minor wounds usually stop bleeding on their own. If they
don't, apply direct pressure to the wound with a sterile 3x3 gauze pad until it
stops.
If the bleeding is heavy or continues to flow, apply additional gauze pads and
maintain direct pressure over the wound. Call 911 for cuts that are deep,
continue bleeding, may require stitches, or scrapes with imbedded particles
that can't be flushed away. Consult your doctor if the wound does not heal in,
one week or less or if any of the following warning signs of infection appear:
increased pain, redness, swelling, or a yellow discharge from the wound.
• Hydrogen Peroxide
o The risk/benefit of antiseptics in wound care has not been scientifically
established. Substances such as hydrogen peroxide, iodine or an
iodine-containing cleansers while acceptable for cleaning INTACT skin,
may irritate living cells and inhibit healing in open wounds
• Thimerosal
o Products containing these ingredients for these uses cannot be
introduced into interstate commerce after October 19, 1998
• Alcohol
o Isopropyl alcohol may be used on intact skin as a cleanser with no
adverse effect; however it should never be introduced into the wound
as it injure tissue and delay healing.
MYTHS: Bites & Stings
Snakes
• Cut & Suck
• Place a chew of tobacco on the bite
• Drink whiskey until you are drunk
• Wrap a leaf of natural tobacco around the bitten limb.
• Remove the wing of a live chicken and place it on the bite to draw out the
poison.
• Rub mud on the bite
• Rub plantain leaf juice on the bite
Bees & Wasps
• Remove an Insect Singer with Tweezers
• Apply a mixture of vinegar and clay
• Cover with chewed plantain leaves
• Cover with ear wax
• Cover with a piece of lean raw meat
• Rub with a mixture of yellow clay and juice from peppermint leaves
• Rub a slice of onion
• Apply tobacco
Jellyfish or Stingray Sting
• Urinate on it
FACTS: Bites & Stings
Snakes
• Calm and reassure person.
• Keep the affected limb still and below heart level.
• Do not attempt to suck the venom out of the victim.
• Call the Poison Control Center and/or EMS.
Bees & Wasps
• If the stinger is present, do not use tweezers or pinch it with your fingers as
this may cause more venom to be injected.
• Try to remove the stinger by scraping or brushing it off with a firm edge, such
as a credit card.
• Remove rings and other constricting items as the affected area may swell.
• Clean the wound following the basic principles for Stopping Bleeding, Wound
Cleaning, & Infection Prevention (above).
• To reduce pain and swelling, apply ice or a cold pack.
• You may also apply 0.5 percent or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, or
calamine lotion to the bite or sting several times a day until symptoms
subside.
• Monitor the bite for signs of infection; increased pain, redness, swelling, or a
yellow discharge from the wound.
Jellyfish or Stingray Sting
• Rinse the wound with clean water, then immerse in hottest water tolerable for
30 to 90 minutes.
• Gently extract stinger if present.
• Scrub wound with mild soap and water. Apply a dressing and seek medical
help.
• Consider an age appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever as necessary.
MYTHS: Minor Burns
• Apply Ice
• Apply Butter
• Apply Baking Soda
• Apply Lotion or Ointment
• Apply Petroleum Jelly
• Re-burn a Burn
• Pop A Blister
• Apply cow dung
FACTS: Minor Burns (small reddened area)
• Use cool compresses of water as often as needed to relieve pain. This is the
most effective and comforting treatment.
• When the pain has subsided, gently clean the burn with cool running water
• Allow the area to dry and apply a Curad Hydro Heal bandage to help the
wound heal naturally.
• Be sure to cleanse the wound and change the bandage at least daily or
whenever it becomes wet or dirty.
• Consider an age appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever as necessary.
• Consult your doctor if the wound does not heal in, one week or less or if any
of the following warning signs of infection appear: increased pain, redness,
swelling, or a yellow discharge from the wound.
• Do not use ice or ice-containing compresses as they may further injure the
skin.
• Do not break any blisters.
• Do not use adhesive bandages as they will stick to the skin and may
further injure it.
