Self-destruction is such a pretty little thing

In no way do I promote or encourage self-harm and cutting. It is not a safe or healthy way to deal with emotions and situations. But for a lot of people, including me, it is an addiction. A lot of the time, people don’t know how to avoid infections or how to “dress” their wounds. This is so you can avoid infections and any other mishap from your injuries.

Cuts: Superficial (cat scatches)

• Apply pressure with a tissue until the bleeding stops.
• Put Neosporin (or any other anti-biotic creams) to entire area once a day until the redness is gone and the cut begins to scab.
• DO NOT bandage the area. They need to ‘breathe’ to begin to scab.
• Once the cuts being to scab, apply unscented moisturizing lotion to the entire area twice a day.
• DO NOT scratch or pick at the cuts, this can cause irritation, infection, and prolong healing time.

Cuts: Deep (gashes)

• Apply pressure with a tissue or towels until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding continues, do not remove the first dressing. Place another on top and continue applying pressure.
• Rinse the cut with cold water and dry.
• Apply Neosporin (or other anti-biotic cream)
• If the cut is on your wrist, check to see if you can flex your fingers and make a fist to insure you didn’t injure a nerve or tendon. If you did, you need to go to an emergency room.
• Determine if the cut needs stitches. If so, you need to go to an emergency room. If you are unable to, neatly close the cut with a butterfly bandage or strips of bandage tape.
• Cover the cut with an oversized bandage or gauze and bandage tape.
• Change the dressing daily or whenever it becomes wet. Be sure to put anti-biotic cream on the cut every time you change the bandage.

Burns

• Determine the severity of your burn. 1st degree burns redden but do not produce blisters, 2nd degree burns both redden and blister the skin, and 3rd degree burns destroy the skin and tissue.
• For 1st and 2nd degree burns, run under cool water for a minute, then cold water for several minutes. Pat dry and cover with a gauze or bandage.
• Apply over-the-counter burn cream, but do not use any greasy substances.
• If the burn covers a large area of the body, rinse with cool water and go to an emergency room.
• Never use water on a 3rd degree burn!!! Cover the area with a gauze and get to an emergency room as soon as possible.

Bruises/hitting

• Put ice packs or cold towels on the bruises to reduce pain.

Poisoning/Overdosing

• If you have ingested household chemicals, contact a poison control center or emergency room.
• If you have taken too many pills, induce vomiting, drink a lot of water, and either stay awake or notify someone to make sure you keep breathing if you do go to sleep.
• If you have taken way too many pills as a suicide attempt get to an emergency room at once.

Skin peeling

• Treat the same as a superficial cut (above)

Puncture wound: (stabbing)

• Remove any foreign material from the skin.
• Treat as a deep cut (above)