No matter if the wound is deep or shallow, getting a cut on any part of the body is painful and can be cause for concern. To minimize the risk of your wound turning into something more serious, it’s important to know basic first aid.

If you aren’t sure what to do if you experience a cut, read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Southcenter helps walk you through the steps of basic first aid.

What Should I Do If I Get a Cut or Laceration?

Most cuts and lacerations can be adequately treated at home by applying pressure to the wound, cleaning it by rinsing it out with cool water and applying a dry bandage.

If your cut is deep and you’re unable to stop the bleeding, it’s probably best to visit our AFC center for additional medical treatment as stitches could be needed. We’ve listed some signs that your cut will need stitches to properly heal below.

Signs That Stitches Are Necessary

• If your cut or laceration is deeper or longer than half an inch, has ragged edges and/or is deep enough that fatty tissue, muscle or bone is exposed, you’ll need stitches.
• A laceration that is bleeding profusely and doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure likely requires stitches.
• Lacerations on certain parts of the body, like the joints, hand, near the eye or around the genital area, can cause lots of bleeding and increase your likelihood of needing stitches.
  

Is My Cut at Risk of Becoming Infected?

It depends on what you’ve been cut by. The dirtier or more unfamiliar the item, the greater its infection risk.

We’ve listed some circumstances that increase your risk of developing an infected cut below.

Circumstances That Increase Infection Risk

• Having Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
• Having a weakened immune system, which could be due to taking steroids, having chemotherapy or contracting an autoimmune disease such as HIV
• Being bitten by an animal or human
• Being cut by a dirty object
• Having a piece of whatever caused the cut remaining inside the wound
• Having a cut that’s large and deep
• Having a jagged-edged cut
• Being an older adult (as skin doesn’t heal as well as people age)
• Being overweight

If you need further help taking care of your wound, don’t wait to visit our AFC Urgent Care Southcenter location today! No appointments are necessary.