Complex structure of the hand, small dimensions of closely packed structures on the hand and the dynamic function of the hand make a surgeon use all his/her experience, suspicion and vigilance to make a correct diagnosis of damage to the structure of the hand.

• Put on an aseptic/clean dressing.
• Raise your limb, e.g. on a sling.
• Remove jewellery from the bitten limb e.g. your wedding ring from your finger - when the swelling grows the pressure may result in ischemia and/or necrosis of the finger.

Small wounds
Underestimating small wounds results in lack of diagnoses of damages, and consequently delay in surgical treatment which in turn results in longer period of treatment, extending the area of the surgery and increase of the cost of treatment.

• Put on an aseptic/clean dressing.
• Raise your limb, e.g. on a sling.
• Remove jewellery from the bitten limb - when the swelling grows the pressure may result in ischemia and/or necrosis of the finger.
• If you feel pins and needles in your finger or you cannot move it, see a surgeon !!!

Extensive wounds
Extensive injuries of the hand or an upper limb can be dangerous for your life.

• NEVER put a tourniquet above the damaged/injured place!
• Take all the structures found at the place of injury (fragments of bones, skin, tendons, fragments of fingers!!!) with you to the hospital.
• Put on an aseptic/clean dressing.
• Wrap tighter the bandage around the wound if necessary (e.g. intensive bleeding from the wound).
• Raise your limb, e.g. on a sling or raise it over your head.
• Take any jewellery off the injured limb, e.g. a wedding ring from your finger – when the swelling increases, the pressure may generate ischemia and/or necrosis of the finger.