Wound Care Information

Please leave the dressing intact until the removal date.

Tell your GP if the wound or surrounding areas become red, swollen or develop a discharge.

You should give your child a medicine, such as paracetamol (Calpol) or ibuprofen (Calbrufen) to relieve any pain.

During the first five days you should: let your child go to school as normal.

• wash the area around the wound. If the wound is on your child’s head do not wash their hair, but you can clean it with a sponge;
• let your child pick the glue or comb near it;
• let your child go swimming.

We have used special strips of sticky paper called steristrips, or sometimes butterfly stitches, to close your child’s wound.

They will help the wound heal quickly with only a small scar. They will usually fall off by themselves, or the doctor or nurse may tell you to take them off: when your child’s wound has healed.

You will be told by your nurse or doctor when to remove the strips.

Soak them in cold water and carefully peel them off. If they are not easily removed, trim them and allow them to fall off naturally.

Glue does not need to be removed. The glue will fall off when the wound is healed. Keep the wound dry for five days. After five days you may clean the area as normal.

We have used removable or dissolvable sutures.
You will be told by your nurse or doctor how many sutures were used. You will also be told in how many days they are to be removed by the practice nurse at your GP surgery, unless you are told to return to the Emergency Department.

Take your child to your nearest Emergency Department or telephone us on 01473 702035 if:

• the wound opens again;
• your child develops a temperature or you notice discharge, redness or swelling of the wound;
• you are worried about your child.