Treating cuts and wounds

Many of us cut ourselves by accident. With most accidents, there is not much bleeding. To treat cuts which are not very serious, follow these easy directions:

1. Stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure on the wound with a clean cloth or dressing.

2. Wash the wound with clean, boiled water in order to prevent infection.

3. Wrap the wound with a clean dressing or bandage, but do not wrap too tightly. If the dressing should become dirty, replace it with a clean one after washing the wound with boiled water again.

4. Again, do not put dirt or soil on a cut. Soil carries germs.

5. If the wound becomes infected, seek the help of your clinic or doctor.

Source: Pied Crew’s Environment Special Magazine Health issue 1: “First Aid”
Pied Crow, CARE/Kenya, P.O. Box 43864, Nairobi, KENYA

HOW A CACTUS CAN HELP STOP A WOUND FROM BLEEDING Cactus juice can be used to clean wounds when there is no boiled water and no way to get any. Cardon cactus also helps stop a wound from bleeding, because the juice makes the cut blood vessels squeeze shut. Cardon Cactus (Pachycerius pectin-aboriginum) 1. Cut a piece of the cactus with a clean knife, and press it firmly against the wound. Figure 2. When the bleeding is under control, tie a piece of the cactus to the wound with a strip of cloth. Figure 3. After 2 or 3 hours, take off the cactus, and clean the wound with boiled water and soap. Source: “Where There is No Doctor” by David Werner published by the Hesperian Foundation, 1977. The Hesperian Foundation, P.O. Box 1692, Palo Alto, CA 94302, U.S.A.

USING GINGER TO TREAT A CUT Ginger (Zingibre officinale) 1. Remove the skin from a piece of ginger, wash it and pat dry with a clean cloth. 2. With a clean grinding stone, grind the ginger together with a little sugar. (It has now been “scientifically” recognized that sugar helps healing.) 3. Put this paste on the cut, and bandage with a clean cloth. Take care that water does not touch the wound. Source: “Home Remedies: Health Care at the Doorstep” World Neighbors in Action No. 18 World Neighbors, 5116 North Portland Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73112, U.S.A.