Minor cuts and grazes are among the most common of all school injuries, and usually heal without causing any problems. A graze is an injury to the skin, where the skin is scraped off against a rough surface. Most grazes only take off the surface layer of the skin which leaves a raw tender area underneath.
Treating minor cuts and grazes:
For most cuts and grazes, cleaning them thoroughly, and covering them with a plaster, or dressing, is usually all that is needed. If the child is cut or graze is bleeding heavily, you should stop the bleeding before applying a dressing.
To dress a cut or graze at school:
• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
• Wear disposable non latex examination gloves
• If the wound is dirty, clean it under running tap water, or use alcohol-free cleansing wipes.
Do not use cotton wool, antiseptics or antiseptic wipes.
• Pat the area dry with a gauze swab.
• Apply a sterile, adhesive dressing, such as a suitably sized plaster.
Reporting and Recording procedures:
As a school it is essential that you keep a record of injuries and accidents to pupils. The school are obliged to provide a pupil accident book in which details of accidents to pupils leading to injury can be recorded. This pupil accident book should be kept in a place that allows school employees access.
If a pupil is injured whilst in school you are obliged by law to