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Seeking Minor Injury Supplies

A customer has a minor cut, scrape, or burn and asks the pharmacist for recommendations on bandages, antiseptic creams, or wound care supplies, including how to use them.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
John (Male)
Excuse me, I accidentally cut my finger while cooking and it's bleeding a bit. Do you have anything for minor cuts?
2
Lisa (Female)
Certainly. Let me see. Is it a deep cut, or more of a surface one?
3
John (Male)
It's quite shallow, but it stung. It's stopped bleeding now, thankfully. Just looking for something to clean it and put a bandage on it.
4
Lisa (Female)
Okay, for shallow cuts, I recommend a good antiseptic wipe or solution to clean it first. Then, you can use an antiseptic cream and cover it with a sterile adhesive bandage. We have various sizes.
5
John (Male)
What would you recommend for the antiseptic cream? Something effective but not too harsh?
6
Lisa (Female)
For that, I'd suggest this one. It contains an antibiotic to prevent infection and is quite gentle. Just a thin layer after cleaning, once or twice a day. And change the bandage daily, or if it gets wet.
7
John (Male)
That sounds perfect. Can you grab me a box of those bandages too, the assorted sizes? And a pack of the antiseptic wipes?
8
Lisa (Female)
Sure, no problem. Here are the items. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before treating the wound. If you notice any signs of infection like redness, swelling, or pus, please see a doctor.
9
John (Male)
Got it. Thank you so much for your help!
10
Lisa (Female)
You're welcome! Take care.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

cut

A small injury where the skin is broken, often from a sharp object like a knife. Use it to describe minor wounds, e.g., 'I have a small cut on my finger.'

bleeding

When blood comes out from a wound. It's common in injuries and you can say 'It's bleeding a bit' to describe light blood flow.

shallow

Not deep, referring to a surface-level injury. Opposite of 'deep.' Useful for describing minor cuts, e.g., 'The cut is shallow.'

antiseptic

A substance that kills germs to clean wounds and prevent infection. Common in wipes or creams, e.g., 'Use antiseptic to clean the cut.'

bandage

A strip of material used to cover and protect a wound. Also called a 'plaster' in some places. Say 'Put a bandage on it' for covering injuries.

antibiotic

A medicine that fights bacteria to prevent or treat infections. Often in creams for wounds, e.g., 'This cream has an antibiotic.'

infection

When harmful germs enter a wound and cause swelling or pain. Important to watch for in injuries, e.g., 'Check for signs of infection.'

swelling

When a body part becomes larger and puffy due to injury or infection. A sign to see a doctor, e.g., 'There's some swelling around the cut.'

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Excuse me, I accidentally cut my finger while cooking and it's bleeding a bit.

This is a polite way to start a conversation for help in a store. 'Excuse me' gets attention, 'accidentally' shows it was not on purpose, and 'while cooking' gives context. Useful for describing sudden injuries when asking for advice.

Is it a deep cut, or more of a surface one?

A question to clarify the type of injury. Uses 'or' to offer choices and 'deep' vs. 'surface' for description. Great for pharmacists or doctors to assess severity; practice with alternatives like 'big or small?'

It's quite shallow, but it stung.

Describes the injury's depth and pain. 'Quite' softens 'shallow' for emphasis, 'but' contrasts with pain. Useful in medical talks to explain symptoms; 'stung' means a sharp, burning pain.

I recommend a good antiseptic wipe or solution to clean it first.

Gives advice on products. 'I recommend' is polite for suggestions, 'or' lists options, 'to clean it first' explains purpose and order. Essential for recommending items in service roles like pharmacy.

It contains an antibiotic to prevent infection and is quite gentle.

Explains a product's benefits. 'Contains' means includes, 'to prevent' shows purpose, 'and' connects features. Helpful for describing medicine; use when buying health products to understand usage.

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before treating the wound.

Gives important safety advice. 'Remember to' reminds action, 'thoroughly' means completely, 'before' shows sequence. Key for hygiene instructions; apply in any wound care situation to avoid further infection.

If you notice any signs of infection like redness, swelling, or pus, please see a doctor.

Warns about potential problems. 'If' for condition, 'like' gives examples, 'please' is polite. Crucial for health warnings; use to learn conditional sentences and when to seek professional help.

Thank you so much for your help!

Expresses strong gratitude. 'So much' emphasizes thanks, common ending for service interactions. Always use after receiving help to be polite; simple structure for everyday appreciation.