Cuts and bleeding: first aid and when a cut needs stitches
Most small cuts stop bleeding with steady pressure and heal at home with soap, water and a clean bandage. A cut needs a clinician if it is deep, gaping or on the face, comes from a bite or dirty object, or keeps bleeding after about 10 minutes of firm pressure.
Firm, steady pressure with a clean cloth stops most bleeding, so don't lift it to check.
MedlinePlus says a cut on the face, a cut that reaches bone, or one more than about a quarter inch deep may need stitches.
Bites, punctures from nails or fishhooks, and dirty wounds are more likely to get infected.
The CDC recommends a tetanus booster every 10 years, or after 5 years for a dirty or deep wound.
Urgent care can clean a wound and close it with stitches, staples or skin adhesive when needed.
What kind of cut is it?
The type of wound tells you a lot about what it needs. Kitchen knives, broken glass, tools, yard work and falls cause most of the cuts we see.
Scrape (abrasion): the top layer of skin is rubbed off. It oozes but rarely needs closing.
Laceration: a cut or tear through the skin. Depth and length decide whether it needs closing.
Puncture: a narrow, deep hole from a nail, a fishhook or a splinter. It may look small but carries germs deep inside.
Bite: from a person or an animal. Bites have a high risk of infection.
Flap wound: a piece of skin is lifted or partly torn away.
MedlinePlus notes that bites, punctures, crush injuries, dirty wounds, wounds on the feet and wounds that aren't treated promptly are more likely to get infected. Our article on whether a tiny cut can get infected covers small wounds.
How to stop a cut from bleeding
Stay calm and act quickly. These steps follow MedlinePlus first aid for bleeding and for cuts.
Press firmlyPut a clean cloth, gauze or bandage directly on the cut and press hard. Use your hand if nothing else is close by.
Keep pressingHold steady pressure and don't lift the cloth to peek. Peeking can restart the bleeding.
Add layers if neededIf blood soaks through, leave the first cloth in place and put another on top.
Raise it and sit downLift the injured part above the heart if you can. Sit or lie down if you feel faint.
Clean a minor cutOnce bleeding stops, wash the cut with mild soap and water. Rinse a puncture under running water for about 5 minutes.
Cover itApply an antibacterial ointment and a clean bandage that won't stick to the wound.
Don't pull out an object stuck deep in a wound, and don't dig for debris. Leave it in place, pad around it and get care.
Does my cut need stitches?
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Look at the cut once the bleeding is under control. This table, based on MedlinePlus guidance, shows which cuts are usually fine at home and which should be seen.
Don't wait until tomorrow to decide. Closing a fresh wound is simpler, and prompt care lowers the chance of infection. If a wound is older, a clinician may decide it is safer to leave it open to heal. You can walk in or book a visit online.
Do you need a tetanus shot after a cut?
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Tetanus bacteria live in soil, dust and manure. The CDC explains that they usually enter the body through broken skin, especially deep wounds and wounds with dirt in them. Tetanus is rare in the United States because most people are vaccinated.
Clean, minor cut: you need a booster if your last tetanus shot was 10 or more years ago.
Dirty, deep or major wound: you need a booster if your last shot was 5 or more years ago. This includes punctures, bites, burns and crush injuries.
Not sure when your last shot was: a booster is usually recommended. That is common, and clinicians have a standard way to handle it.
Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, treats cuts for children and adults at two Westmont, IL clinics, open 7 days a week. Our team is led by board-certified physicians.
ExamYour clinician looks at the size, depth and location of the wound and checks feeling and movement near it.
Numbing and cleaningThe area is numbed if needed, then cleaned well to lower the chance of infection.
Closing the woundDepending on the cut, it may be closed with stitches, staples or medical skin adhesive. Some wounds heal better left open.
Imaging if neededIf glass may be in the wound or a bone may be hurt, X-ray is available at our main clinic at 29 N Cass Ave only.
Tetanus and aftercareWe check your tetanus history, dress the wound and give you written care instructions. We also do wound checks and stitch removal.
Keep the cut clean and covered. Change the bandage every day, or sooner if it gets wet or dirty. Wash your hands before you touch the wound.
Watch for infection for several days. MedlinePlus lists these warning signs:
Redness or warmth that spreads out from the cut
Throbbing pain that gets worse instead of better
Swelling, pus or cloudy drainage
Red streaks leading away from the wound
Fever
Any of these is a reason to come in. Our article when to worry about a cut shows what normal healing looks like compared with infection.
Cuts in children and older adults, and how to prevent them
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Children
Kids bleed a lot from small scalp and face cuts, which can look scary. Stay calm, hold pressure and bring them in if the cut is gaping or on the face. Bring your child's vaccine record if you have it, so we can check tetanus protection.
Older adults
Skin gets thinner with age and can tear easily. If you take a blood thinner, bleeding may take longer to stop, so seek help sooner rather than later.
Prevention
Store knives, scissors and sharp tools out of children's reach, and teach older kids to use tools safely.
Cut away from your body and use a cutting board.
Wear gloves for yard work and when handling broken glass.
Keep tetanus shots up to date for everyone in the family.
A cut likely needs closing if it gapes open, is deeper than about a quarter inch, is on the face, or reaches fat, muscle or bone. Cuts that keep bleeding after steady pressure should also be seen. MedlinePlus advises prompt care for these wounds, and a clinician can tell you after a quick exam.
How long can you wait to get stitches?
Get a cut checked as soon as you can, ideally right after the bleeding is under control. Prompt care lowers the risk of infection, and fresh wounds are easier to close. If a wound is older, a clinician may decide it is safer to clean it and let it heal open rather than stitch it.
How do you stop a cut from bleeding?
Press a clean cloth firmly on the cut and hold steady pressure without lifting it to check. If blood soaks through, add another cloth on top. Raise the injured part above the heart if you can. If bleeding is heavy or doesn't slow after about 10 minutes of firm pressure, call 911.
Do I need a tetanus shot for a cut?
You need one if your last tetanus shot was 10 or more years ago for a clean, minor cut, or 5 or more years ago for a dirty, deep or puncture wound, according to CDC guidance. If you don't remember when you had your last shot, a booster is usually recommended. We give boosters at our clinic.
Can urgent care do stitches?
Yes. Urgent Care Center of Westmont cleans wounds and closes them with stitches, staples or medical skin adhesive when needed. We also check your tetanus status, give aftercare instructions, and see you again for wound checks and stitch removal. Heavy bleeding that won't stop needs 911 instead.
What does an infected cut look like?
An infected cut is often red, warm and swollen, with redness that spreads outward. You may see pus or cloudy drainage, red streaks leading away from the wound, or have throbbing pain or a fever. These signs usually show up a few days after the injury. Get infected cuts checked promptly.
