First aid – Find out what to do in case of minor accidents – and how to treat and heal minor wounds as fast and efficiently as possible.

Accidents can happen, and when they do it is important to keep a cool head. Not everyone is accustomed to seeing blood, and sometimes even something harmless such as cutting vegetables in the kitchen can lead to a deep cut that will bleed profusely. Knowing how to react and having a well-stocked first aid kit at home and in your car will help you be prepared.

YOU CAN‘T PREVENT ACCIDENTS,
BUT YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD
FIRST AID KIT AT HAND

Most minor cuts and bruises can be treated effectively with a first-aid kit. (see: TREATMENT). But how do you know if an injury needs closer attention?

We recommend to contact a medical professional in the following circumstances:

• if the wound is deep and causes major bleeding
• if the wound shows signs of infection such as redness, warmth, pain and swelling
• if there are embedded foreign objects 
• in case of an animal or human bite or 
• in case of contact with animal blood
• if the wound is in the area of the face
• if there is insufficient tetanus vaccination

and of course any time you have questions or are uncertain.

Recommendation: Also, seek medical advice in case of breathing problems; unconsciousness; a deep wound with major loss of blood; a severe burn; a suspected fracture or broken bone; a suspected heart attack; a severe allergic reaction; a snake, animal bite or human bite; poisoning; severe shock or any condition which turns rapidly worse.

Even if an accident happens out of the blue, you should take your time to dress your wound instead of letting it dry. Why? Because this will create optimum conditions for undisturbed and fast healing of your skin.

“In every wound the protective function of the skin is impaired. The objective of wound dressings is not only to protect the wound, but also to enable conditions in which healing of the skin can proceed as undisturbed as possible, so that the skin’s healthy structure can be restored.

“A PLASTER WILL PROTECT YOUR
WOUND AND IMPROVE
THE HEALING PROCESS
OF YOUR SKIN.”

In the treatment of minor everyday injuries using standard first aid dressings and plasters...

• protect your wound from external influences and prevent contamination and infection. 
• ensure absorption of blood and secretion, 
• reduce pain and mechanical trauma to a minimum during dressing removal and improve your comfort.“

Find out what Moist wound healing plasters can do to ensure better healing.

Finding the right wound dressing has never been so easy: Just rely on these Elastoplast
products that should be in every First Aid Kit.

The original Elastoplast Fabric Plasters is suitable for covering all types of smaller wounds and should be a part of anyone's medicine cabinet.

The all-purpose Elastoplast Heavy Fabric Plasters offer strong adhesion and come in different versions. For example, the Elastoplast Antibacterial Plaster offers added protection against infection with antiseptic silver in the wound pad. The Aqua Protect Plasters are even ideal for protecting your wounds while swimming and showering. 
A plaster that protects your wound and can adapt to all of your movements is the Elastoplast Fabric Roll Plaster. The Elastoplast Antibacterial Plaster also comes with added silver-protection against infection.
For hypoallergenic wound protection consider Elastoplast Clear Plasters. It is made with soft and breathable material, is painless to remove and offers skin friendly protection.

 

 

It’s not easy to prevent minor wounds and scrapes. You can easily trip over a curb or mishandle a dull kitchen knife, and before you know it you‘re bleeding – and wondering, is that going to scar? A wound doesn‘t need to be deep or severe to leave a scar.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to prevent some scars and reduce others. Follow this advice and you may have a tale to tell about your accident – without the scar to prove it.

The best way to prevent an unsightly scar or reduce its appearance is to do a good job caring for the wound. Use these two steps:

Don‘t pick at scabs. Just after you get a cut or scrape your body starts healing the wound: white blood cells attack infection-causing bacteria. Red blood cells, fibrin, and platelets create a clot over your wound. And in no time, a scab forms. If you pick off the scab, you may not only reopen the wound and introduce bacteria, you could also create a larger scar.

Always see your doctor if the wound is deep, bleeding or shows signs of infection like reddening, swelling or warmth.  
Also make sure to seek medical help if you are not able to clean the wound properly.
In case you have diabetes, a proper wound care is of special importance. Always discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor and/or podiatrist, even for the care of minor wounds and skin cracks – especially on your feet.
 
Please note that none of the above given tips or recommendations substitute medical advice. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages. Important: consult a health professional in case of any uncertainty of treating your wound properly.
 
The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care or advice. If you have or suspect a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on this website.

For further information regarding Elastoplast products, please contact us via email on Consumer care: ConsumerSA.External@beiersdorf.com or phone: 0860 102 091. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages.