Cuts
Cuts occur when the skin slices open, causing bleeding and pain. Cuts need to be cleaned, closed, and covered with a bandage to prevent infection. More severe cuts - those that are deep, longer than an inch, or in a part of the body that bends - may require stitches. In some cases, an over-the-counter topical tissue adhesive can be used in place of stitches.

How to care for a cut:
Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Press on the cut with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. If after 10 minutes the wound is still bleeding, lift the part of the body with the cut higher than the heart.
After the bleeding has stopped, and when it is clean and dry, apply a first aid cream.
Put one or more bandages on the cut. The edges of the cut skin should touch, but not overlap.
Keep the bandage clean and dry and apply a fresh bandage at least every other day.

Scrapes
Scrapes are less serious than cuts, but can be more painful because more sensitive nerve endings are involved. With a scrape, the skin is torn, but not sliced open. As with cuts, scrapes need to be cleansed and covered to avoid infection.

How to care for a scrape:
Clean the scrape thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Press on the scrape to stop any bleeding.
Apply a first aid cream.
Make a bandage using gauze and first aid tape. day.

Bruises
Bruises, also known as contusions, form after a person falls or is hit by a force that is hard enough to injure the soft tissues under the skin. When these tissues are injured, the blood vessels beneath the skin break and leak red blood cells, which causes the bruise's purplish, reddish, or blackish color. As it heals, and the body metabolizes the red blood cells, the skin turns yellowish-green. Bruises can cause pain, tenderness, and swelling in the affected area.

How to care for a bruise:
Apply a cold pack to the bruised area as soon as possible, preferably within 15 minutes after the injury. Keep the cold pack on for 10 minutes and apply pressure. Repeat several times for 2 days.
Two days after the injury, use warm compresses for 20 minutes at a time.
Rest the bruised area and raise it above the level of the heart if possible.
Do not bandage your bruise.
Avoid hitting the bruised area again

Punctures
Punctures are stab wounds, caused by an object piercing the skin. They can be shallow, like a puncture from a splinter, or deep, like a puncture from stepping on a nail. Puncture wounds can be very painful and may cause bleeding.

How to care for a puncture wound:
Let the wound bleed to cleanse itself.
Remove the object that caused the puncture with clean, sterile tweezers. To sterilize tweezers, hold a lit match or flame to the ends.
Soak the wound in warm, soapy water 2 to 4 times a day for several days.
After soaking it, dry the wound area and apply an antibiotic ointment.

Burns
Burns occur when skin cells, or the underlying muscle and bone, are exposed to more heat than they can absorb. Fire, steam, heat, electricity, chemicals, and sunlight can all cause burns. There are three types of burns:

First degree: The skin is red and swollen, but usually heals within 1 to 2 days.
Second degree: The skin is red and blistered and may be watery. Both the outer and lower layers of skin are affected.
Third degree: The skin is black and white or charred. There is less pain with this type of burn because the nerves are destroyed. Medical attention is required.

How to care for a burn:
Immerse the affected area in cold water (not ice) until the pain subsides.
For first degree burns, apply a dressing to keep the skin from becoming infected and elevate the affected area if possible.
For second degree burns, dip clean cloths in cold water, wring them out, and apply to the burn for up to an hour. Gently pat the burn dry and dress it with a gauze bandage that doesn't stick to the wound.