• >> Your local pharmacist can help advise you on steps to take and medicines to help ease an upset stomach
• >> Antibiotics will not treat cold or flu symptoms, as these illnesses are caused by a viral infection not bacterial
• >> In most cases, fever is due to a common and harmless illness and will get better by itself within around 5 days
• >> A plaster is just for protection, it won't help the cut heal so only leave it on for between 24 and 48 hours
• >> A cough can last for up to 3 weeks and there is usually no need to see a doctor
• >> Feeling unwell but not sure what to do? Call NHS 111 – it's free and open 24 hours a day, every day
• >> Most people will be as good as new within 6-8 weeks of a sprain or strain

• Recovery

  Although most cuts and grazes heal by themselves in just a few days, some can take up to 10 days. If they are painful though, painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen will help.

• Treating a cut or graze

  Thorough cleaning and a plaster or dressing is all that is needed for most cuts and grazes.
  
  If your cut is bleeding heavily or on a delicate part of your body (such as the sole of your foot or palm of your hand), make sure you stop the bleeding before you put on a plaster.
  
  

  Did you know?

  Lips, gums and tongues have a rich blood supply and so may bleed a lot more than other areas of the body. Sucking on an ice cube (or tasty ice lolly) will help to reduce the swelling in these areas.

  
  
  To stop bleeding follow these steps:

  • apply pressure with a bandage or towel
  • if the cut is on your hand or arm, raise it above your head
  • if it is on your leg or foot, lie down and raise it above the level of your heart.

  Did you know?

  Raising your arm or leg above the heart helps to slow down bleeding by reducing blood flow to the area.

  
  
  Once the cut has stopped bleeding, follow these steps to dress the wound:

  • wash and dry your hands well
  • clean the cut or graze under running tap water (antiseptic may actually damage the skin tissue and slow down healing, so water is best)
  • pat the area dry with a clean towel
  • apply a sterile adhesive dressing, such as a plaster.

  It’s important to stop the bleeding before running it under water. Holding a cut under running water stops the blood from clotting, so it will carry on bleeding.
  
  It’s important to keep the cut or graze clean and dry, so change the dressing as often as necessary and use waterproof plasters.
  
  

  Did you know?

  A plaster is just for protection, it won’t help the cut heal so only leave it on for between 24 and 48 hours.

  
  
  

  Did you know?

  Your local pharmacist can advise you on which plasters or dressings to use.

• When to seek medical advice

  Occasionally, cuts or grazes can get infected. Signs of this include:

  • swelling of the affected area
  • pus forming in the affected area
  • redness spreading from the cut or graze
  • increasing pain in the wound
  • a high temperature or fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
  • swollen glands.

  Did you know?

  An infected wound can usually be treated with a short course of antibiotics.

  
  
  If you’re worried that a wound may be infected, call 111 to speak to an advisor. They will assess your symptoms and let you know what you should do.
  
  If you experience any of the following, call 111 for medical advice:

  • bleeding from a cut artery - blood from an artery comes out in spurts with each beat of the heart, is bright red and is often difficult to control
  • the cut continues to bleed after following the steps above
  • loss of sensation near the wound or trouble moving body parts - this could indicate damage to underlying nerves
  • severe pain, extensive bruising and trouble moving body parts - this could mean you may have damaged a tendon
  • a cut to the face - you may require early treatment to prevent scarring
  • a cut on the palm of your hand which looks infected - infections here are more likely to spread quickly
  • if there is a possibility that there is anything in the wound
  • an extensive or complex cut that has caused a lot of tissue damage.

If you're concerned about yourself, a relative or friend, call NHS 111 for medical advice, this free service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The advisors taking 111 calls are in the same room as those answering 999 calls, so if urgent attention is needed, they can arrange it immediately for you.