too much bleeding, just Vaseline/petroleum jelly is enough, and then covering the wound,” continues Diep. “If it’s a deeper cut where there is more of a break in the skin, I would use bacitracin ointment instead of Neosporin. Some people have bad reactions to neomycin (which is one of the main components in Neosporin), so I like bacitracin better.” Nosebleeds: Nosebleeds happen when the tender blood vessels in the nose break – commonly caused by changes of season (or vog in Hawaii), dryness, scratching, some medicines and injuries. “(For a nosebleed,) tilt (the) head down and pinch the bridge of the nose to help stop the bleeding,” describes Diep. “Don’t tilt your head back, as the blood just goes right back down your throat.” usually accompanied with bleeding. “In general, for cuts and scrapes, try to put pressure to stop the bleeding followed by cleaning and dressing the wound,” summarizes Diep. “Small and minor cuts don’t often need stitches, whereas larger cuts may need stitches in the ER, which help the wound heal better and minimize scarring.” “(To clean a small and minor cut,) I don’t recommend using hydrogen peroxide as that can actually burn and damage healthy skin. One of the myths is that hydrogen peroxide is helpful, but most doctors don’t actually use hydrogen peroxide to clean. Soap and water or another cleaner, such as alcohol or hibiclens (antibiotic wash), is actually better than hydrogen peroxide.” “After washing and cleaning, if it’s a small superficial cut where there wasn’t 86 HAWAII PARENT July/August 2024 Fully stocked first aid kits can be purchased from Red Cross and most stores including Walgreens and CVS. “I don’t recommend using hydrogen peroxide as that can actually burn and damage healthy skin.”
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