Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for an abrasion. This means you got a cut or scraped off the top layers of skin, creating a wound.
Most of the time, you can care for your wound at home. How long it will take to heal is based on how serious the wound is.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Keep the wound covered as it heals, if your doctor told you to. You can put a thin layer of antibiotic ointment on the wound to keep it moist. This also keeps the dressing from sticking to the wound.
●After 24 hours, gently wash the wound every day with soap and water. Pat dry, and put on a clean dressing.
●Change the dressing at least once a day, or anytime it gets dirty. Each time, look closely at the wound to make sure it is healing. It is normal to see some yellowish discharge around the wound.
●Always wash your hands before and after touching the wound or dressing.
●Do not scratch at the wound or pick the scab.
●You can take a shower, but do not soak the wound in water or go swimming. After 2 days, you can put a waterproof bandage on the wound if you want to swim.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.
●You have changes in skin color, swelling, warmth, or increased pain around the wound.
●There is pus (thick yellow, green, or gray fluid) draining from the wound.
●There are streaks on your skin around the wound, or streaks going up your arm or leg.
●The wound has not healed after 10 days.
●You have new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Taking care of cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds (The Basics)
Patient education: How to change a dressing (The Basics)
