Does your cut require an emergency room visit?
Accidents happen. You get a cut and see a lot of blood. Then you wonder if you need to go to the emergency room.
But the first thing you should do is try to remain calm. Next, examine the cut and assess if it can be treated at home with basic first aid, such as applying pressure to stop the bleeding.
“For minor cuts, clean the wound properly to help to prevent infection. Rinse the cut under clean running water and wash around the wound with soap,” says Dr. Ross Laurent, an emergency services physician at Aurora Health Care. “Try to keep soap out of the wound and avoid soaps with perfumes. If there’s any dirt in the wound, try to gently remove it. If you can’t get everything out, you may need assistance from a health care provider.”
Applying antibiotic ointment and a bandage might not be necessary, but it can help prevent infection and protect the wound if it is exposed to dirt.
Deeper and more severe cuts that damage the skin, tendons, ligaments or bones require a visit to the ER and possibly stitches or even surgery. If the wound is bleeding heavily, apply pressure right away with a clean gauze or towel and elevate it.
“With a deep cut, we recommend you go to the ER immediately to receive care. For severe finger injuries, including amputation, call 911 immediately and apply pressure to control the bleeding,” adds Dr. Laurent.
He says deep and severe cuts meet any of the following criteria:
- More than a quarter inch deep
- Has ragged edges
- Still bleeding after 15 minutes of applying pressure or is spurting blood
- Came from a dirty or rusty object or from a human or animal bite
- Fat, muscle or bone is exposed
- Over a joint or the joint doesn’t work
Most minor cuts heal in about a week but watch for any signs of infection. When the cut requires stitches or surgery, the wound should heal within a few weeks or several months depending on the injury.
