Hospitalemergencyroomstreatinjuredfingersallthetime.Withouttreatment,abadcutcanleadtopermanentdamage.Buthowshouldapersonknowwhenableedingcutisseriousenoughtorequiremedicalattention?
HerearesometipsfromDr.MartinBrown,chairmanofthedepartmentofemergencyatInovaAlexandriaHospitalinVirginia.
1.Laceration(裂口)
Themedicaltermforacutortearintheskinisalaceration.  小题1:  Alongcutonafingercanlikelybetreatedwithoutavisittoadoctorifthewoundisnotverydeep.However,ifyouhaveashortbutdeeplaceration,youwillneedprofessionalattention.
2.Fingertipscutoff
Someinjuries,likeafingertipthatgetscutoff,mightevenneedsurgerytorepair.  小题2: Moreoften,cuttingdowntheboneiswhatisdonebecausereattachingafingertipisoftennotsuccessful.
3.Bleeding
 小题3:  Smallcutsusuallyproducewhatisknownasvenous(静脉的)bleeding.Thismeansthebloodflowssteadilyfromtheinjury.Thebleedingwilloftenstopwhenpressureisputonthewound.Inmostcasesholdingdirectpressurewithacleanclothforfourtofiveminuteswoulddo.Butifacutappearstobepumpingbloodoutwithsomeforce,thismaybeasignofarterial(动脉的)bleeding.  小题4: 
Finally,alwayskeepthisinmind:evenacutthatdoesnotrequiremedicalattentionmustbekeptcleantopreventinfection.Smallcutsshouldbecleanedgentlywithcleanwater.  小题5: Thencoveritwithaclean,drybandage.