First aid advice? *tw*

[MyDarkestNight.]

Yesterday I had gone almost 2 months clean of self-harm (I was exactly 7 days off the goal), but things got to much and I ruined it.
I let things build up a lot so it was a bit worse than I usually would.
I have a question about a particular cut (which I'm going to describe so you know what I mean, so stop reading here if it might trigger you).
Basicly it is about an inch wide and quite deep. I'm pretty sure it's not deep enough to need stitches, but it bled non-stop for about half an hour last night until I eventually got so tired I just had to wrap it up and hope the pressure would stop it as I went to bed. I put to plasters criss-crossed over it and then wrapped it with a bandage and then put an arm warmer on to keep the bandage in place (and to try make sure I didn't get any more blood on my WHITE sleeve :L)

(DESCRIPTION ENDS HERE.)

I took the bandage off this morning and the blood hadn't gone through it, which must mean it stopped, which is good.

My question is: should I take off the plasters and a) replace b) leave it off to get air at it so it can heal c) I'm totally wrong, what do I do?
I would take it off but my experience with cuts like this one is that they get injected very easily if not covered, and also the fact that I'm a year late with my tetanus and my blades aren't exactly clean (though I have now cleaned them)

Does anyone know what I should do?

[justalitlebitmessedup]

i think it might need stiches i did a thread about first aid a wile ago

[Nerissa]

First off, get the plasters off (soaking them off with lukewarm water is easier than pulling them off,) and see what the damage looks like today.

If you have any steristrips, try to use those to pull the wound almost together (if you bring them right together, they overlap a little and the scar is worse.) If the steristrips don't hold - and I'm not sure where your cut is, but if it's near the wrist or elbow it probably won't - you need to go and get some stitches.

The best way to prevent infection is obviously to use clean blades and clean bandages, but also to wipe the area down first with something like these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/carewearclot...8033064&sr=8-2. Now that those routes are passed, it's best to see if you can get one dressing that covers the whole injury, and keep it covered as much as possible for now. Letting the air get to it always sounds very tempting, and in theory isn't a bad idea, but if you're anything like me you'll end up getting it covered in fluff.

I'm sorry you broke your 2 months clean, keep working at finding other ways to cope with those feelings. You're always welcome to PM me if you want a chat.

[angel01]

you cant recieve stitches if hte cut happend more than 6 hours ago anyhow. No doctor would risk the chance of infection. If it stopped bleedign you are fine and there is no need for stitches