DS split his cheek playing rugby while away with school. Can anyone with first aider knowledge reassure me? Photo attached.

sunshinehappydays · 2026-08-07T16:05:05+00:00

My DS is away on another continent on a school trip and split his cheek while playing rugby today. He was assessed by a first aider who didn’t think he had broken his cheek and felt the split wasn’t deep enough to need glue or stitching. It stopped bleeding very quickly and although it’s swollen he’s not in pain. They put on lots of steristrips and he’s to keep these dry until he’s home on Monday. I feel useless as I’m not with him to check but wondered if anyone with any more first aider knowledge than me has any advice. Thanks!

Original poster

sunshinehappydays · Today 13:01

@allthingsinmoderation do you know if stitches are the best to close a wound for aesthetic purposes? Or is glue better?

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Original poster

sunshinehappydays · Today 12:44

@Johnogroats yeah he’s had an amazing time in SA apart from this injury.

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Johnogroats · Today 12:39

Many rugged players (my brother, my son) have rugby scars. We were on the beach yesterday and you can see where DS got a massive scrape last season (Astro skid). As others say he’ll probably have a bit of a scar, but don’t stress.

As an aside I’m pretty sure I know the school… DS was 1st XV last year there (if I’m right) and was not happy he didn’t have an opportunity to go to SA. I hope he recovers well.

Secretseverywhere · Today 12:33

I took my Dd to A&E with a nasty cut to her face it was really deep it had cut through yellow stuff underneath (not a medic) as well. I thought for sure it’d need glue / stitches but they cleaned and steri stripped it. I was told that scarring is worse if you stitch / glue so it’s better not to unless absolutely necessary. A few years on and it’s not noticeable just a thin white line.

I’d want an x-ray for cheek bone / proper medic to look him over though just in case.

allthingsinmoderation · Today 12:19

Glad your sons injury was assessed properly by a doctor .
A facial injury close to the eye should be assessed as a head injury.
An injury on a rugby field needs cleaning/tetanus cover.
Aesthetics warrants a facial injury closure by a professional for the best outcome.
Glad it got sorted ,it must be a relief for you and your son.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · Today 12:05

Vitamin e capsules cut in half and applied, bio oil are good for fading scars.

lovelycattus · Today 11:49

It will scar a lot less now it’s been stitched and closed properly. Well done for insisting he was assessed at a hospital.

chirrupybird · Today 11:38

Five stitches is quite a lot, but a war scar on a rugby playing teen not a problem, he will brag about it in the future.

Anewuser · Today 11:31

They were wrong to not seek immediate medical treatment. A paramedic stopping the bleeding by applying steristrips isn’t good enough.

I would not be impressed by that. However, I’m glad he’s been treated appropriately now and will be on the mend.

I really wouldn’t worry about a scar, even if it does, or will be tiny and light coloured. Also, a story to tell behind it.

FadedRed · Today 11:17

It’s likely to leave a small scar, but you could try some silicone tape when the wound is completely healed to minimise any scarring. I used Kelinul tape (other brands available) on a large operation scar and it went from very visible and lumpy to smooth and almost invisible, took a few weeks use but it’s easy to use and very reasonably priced.

Original poster

sunshinehappydays · Today 11:12

@Dontcallmescarface because I feel a bit out of control while he’s in South Africa and I’m here. I know you can look dispassionately at a stranger’s photo online and say it will be just a small scar but he’s my son and I can’t do that.

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Dontcallmescarface · Today 10:57

sunshinehappydays · Today 10:13

I probably wouldn’t have pushed for further treatment without this thread so thanks to all who took the time to reply to me when I was stressed. This is a photo of the cut before it was cleaned and stitched. Do we think it will scar? I’m now stressing about scarring 😩

Why are you stressing over what will be (at most), a small scar?

W0tnow · Today 10:22

It will be a small white line for a scar, if anything.

supercrone · Today 10:19

sunshinehappydays · Today 10:13

I probably wouldn’t have pushed for further treatment without this thread so thanks to all who took the time to reply to me when I was stressed. This is a photo of the cut before it was cleaned and stitched. Do we think it will scar? I’m now stressing about scarring 😩

If it scars at all which I doubt, it would be small and nothing to worry about.

Original poster

sunshinehappydays · Today 10:13

I probably wouldn’t have pushed for further treatment without this thread so thanks to all who took the time to reply to me when I was stressed. This is a photo of the cut before it was cleaned and stitched. Do we think it will scar? I’m now stressing about scarring 😩

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DS split his cheek playing rugby while away with school. Can anyone with first aider knowledge reassure me? Photo attached.

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Jopo12 · Today 10:10

Glad he's been assessed properly.

I had 3 twelve year olds at home alone last autumn (I had popped to my mum's)and they decided to play together in the hallway. One of them tripped and put his arm through the glass window of the kitchen door and I got a video of blood!

I rushed home to look at the wounds, and none of them were deep, but one was wide and I was concerned about glass in the cuts. It was definitely time to go to a&e. There was no doubt.

You son's teacher should have gone straight away, there will have been muck in the cut, and if it needed steristrips to bring the would together then it was wide enough to need stitches..5 is quite a lot!

Aknifewith16blades · Today 09:57

Well done for sticking to your guns and pushing for proper treatment.

Ineffable23 · Today 08:03

Glad to hear they've sorted him out. Must be so hard with him being so far away!

Original poster

sunshinehappydays · Today 07:51

Just an update as I have been awake worrying most of the night! The person who looked at his injury yesterday was a paramedic. After their activity yesterday evening DS’s teacher took him to a large private hospital they have used before where he was seen by a doctor. DS got a tetanus vaccine and his wound was washed out. The doc stitched his cut with five stitches. He’s got a waterproof dressing over the stitches and they have to be taken out after ten days. Poor DS but he seems absolutely fine. Thanks for all the comments-they helped loads.

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Original poster

sunshinehappydays · Yesterday 19:20

We have. It was assessed at the pitch when it happened and we are waiting to find out the qualifications of the assessor. If it was a doctor I think we need to trust them. If it was a first aider the teacher is going to take DS to hospital after their activity tonight.

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Glenthebattleostrich · Yesterday 19:17

I have been a first aider for 27 years (that makes me feel so so old) and did first aid in a school.

I would definitely send that to minor injuries, if it needs steristrips it needs checking. Plus the swelling could be hiding worse.

theresbeautyinwindysun · Yesterday 19:16

You are within your rights to insist it’s assessed by a professional. You’ll just worry otherwise.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · Yesterday 19:12

Thats needs stitches or gluing…

CPRMummy · Yesterday 18:24

NeverDropYourMooncup · Yesterday 17:49

Might take a while to fly to him, pick him up, fly back and then wait to be seen.

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They probably have medical facilities in South Africa to take him to, saving on all the flying.

Arlanymor · Yesterday 17:57

Very weird that if it's a rugby trip they don't have proper protocol in place to deal with this - I played for 20-odd years, maybe a bit longer, and I have seen the inside of more A&Es in more countries then I care to admit! They need to get him checked out properly, facial injuries are a real hazard in rugby. Hope he gets seen soon and that he enjoys the rest of his time away.