Cuts and grazes are one of the most common little injuries there is, and the good news is that most small ones you can safely treat at home. Cleaning and covering a wound properly lowers the risk of infection and helps it heal faster. Here's how to do it well - and when a cut is one for a professional rather than a plaster.

Step 1: Stop the bleeding

Wash your hands first (and wear disposable gloves if you have them).
Press on the wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or bandage.
Raise the injured area above the level of your heart if you can - for a hand or arm, hold it up; for a leg, sit or lie down and prop it up.
Keep steady pressure on for a few minutes until the bleeding stops. If blood soaks through, add another layer on top rather than lifting the first one off.

One important exception: if something is stuck in the wound, don't pull it out. Leave it in place, press gently on either side of it, and get medical help.

Step 2: Clean it

Once the bleeding has stopped:

Rinse the wound under running tap water (or bottled water) to wash out any dirt and grit. Sterile wipes work too.
Pat it dry with a clean cloth or sterile gauze.
Clean the skin around the wound with soap and water, wiping away from the cut so you don't push dirt into it. Try to keep soap out of the wound itself.

Getting grit and dirt out is the part that really matters - it's what prevents infection and, for grazes, reduces the chance of marks being left behind.

Step 3: Cover it

Put on a sterile dressing or a plaster. A very small, clean cut may not need covering at all, but a dressing protects it while it heals.
Keep the dressing clean and dry, and change it when it needs it.

Then simply let it heal, and keep an eye on it over the next few days.

Watch for signs of infection

Most cuts heal without any trouble, but check in with a pharmacist or GP if you notice the wound becoming:

Redder, or with redness spreading out from it
More swollen, warm, or increasingly painful
Oozing pus or fluid
Accompanied by feeling generally unwell or a high temperature

These can be signs the wound has become infected and may need treatment such as antibiotics.

When it's not a job for a plaster

Get medical help (in the UK, call NHS 111 or see a GP) if:

The cut is large - roughly bigger than 5 cm (2 inches) - or deep and gaping
There's a foreign object in it, or dirt you can't rinse out
It's the result of an animal or human bite
It already shows signs of infection, or you feel unwell

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

You can't stop the bleeding, or bright red blood is spurting out
There's a loss of feeling or movement near the wound
It's a bad cut to the face, or to the palm of the hand
The wound is very large or deep, or has something embedded in it

A quick word on tetanus

Deep or dirty wounds carry a small risk of tetanus. If your wound is deep, or was caused by something dirty or rusty, it's worth checking that your tetanus vaccinations are up to date - a healthcare professional can advise whether you need a booster.

This article is general first-aid information to help you care for minor injuries. It is not a diagnosis and doesn't replace advice from a pharmacist, doctor, or other healthcare professional. For anything more than a minor cut or graze - or if you're unsure - talk it through with Dr. Intelligence for orientation, or contact a professional directly.

Sources: NHS - Cuts and grazes · St John Ambulance - Cuts and grazes