Injuries and cuts can happen at anytime to anyone, and they often happen when we least expect them.

Because of this, it’s important to know what to do after you’ve been injured, and it’s important to know the signs of potential infection. If you aren’t sure what to do if you experience a cut, read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Centennial helps walk you through the steps of basic first aid and how to know if you need stitches.

What’s the First Thing I Should Do If I Get Cut?

Perform basic first aid. This means doing things like applying pressure to the wound, cleaning it by rinsing it out with cool water and applying a dry bandage.

If your wound is deep and it’s not possible to stop the bleeding, though, it’s best to visit our AFC center for medical treatment, as stitches could be likely. We’ve listed some signs that your cut will need stitches to properly heal below.

Signs That You May Need Stitches

• Check the size of your cut. 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.
  

Will My Wound Become Infected?

It depends on what caused the wound and how deep the wound is. The more shallow the cut wound, the less likely it is to get infected. The cleaner and more familiar the object that caused the wound, the less likely it is to get infected. Dirtier objects and deeper wounds are more likely to become infected.

If there are red streaks around the laceration, increased swelling, pus or you have a fever of 100.4 F or more, seek medical attention ASAP.

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 Centennial location today! No appointments are necessary.