How to Bandage a Cut Finger: Step-by-Step First Aid

1. Wash hands with soap and water; wear gloves if available.
2. Control bleeding: Apply direct pressure with clean gauze/cloth. Elevate hand above heart. Hold 5–10 min without peeking.
3. If bleeding persists: Add more gauze (do not remove). Seek urgent care if arterial spurting or >10 min pressure fails.
4. Clean wound: Rinse under cool running water. Remove debris with sterile tweezers if needed. Avoid hydrogen peroxide/alcohol (damage tissue).
5. Apply antibiotic ointment (bacitracin, polysporin) thinly.
6. Cover: Adhesive bandage (small cuts) or non-stick pad + roller gauze + tape (larger). Ensure not too tight.
7. Daily care: Change bandage daily or when wet/dirty. Reapply ointment. Monitor for infection: increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, red streaks, fever.
8. Tetanus: Update if >10 years (clean wound) or >5 years (dirty).