Cuts & Urgent Care

Cuts can happen every day. Whether your hand slipped while you were chopping an onion or you walked into something sharp, you could have a serious cut to deal with. It's normal to have a lot of questions about how to deal with a cut, and you might not realize that you should receive urgent care treatment.

So, is your cut worthy of an urgent care visit? Or should you stick it out with a bandage at home? Here's what you need to know.

First, Take Care of the Cut

The first thing you should do when you get a cut is put a stop to the bleeding. You can do this by applying pressure to the injury, perhaps with a towel or gauze. Once the bleeding does stop, wash the cut with soap and water.

If the cut does not stop bleeding soon, it is important that you get medical treatment. A lot of blood may be indicative that you need emergency care rather than to simply visit an urgent care center.

Assess the Depth of the Cut

The depth of the cut will have a lot to do with your next steps. If the cut is very deep, it may require stitches to heal properly. Otherwise, you may have a large scar there in the future.

You also need to look at the depth of the cut because it could lead to an infection. Infection can be more dangerous than bleeding, which is why you should really consider seeing an urgent care doctor if you notice that the cut left behind is deep.

Think About the Source of the Cut

You also need to think about how you got the cut. In many cases, the thing that caused the cut carries bacteria. In some cases, people get tetanus from cuts that are not even very deep. You may need a tetanus shot after your cut.

Consider the Location of the Cut

The location of the cut is another reason to get help from an urgent care center. For example, you should definitely see a doctor right away if you have a cut on the face, hands, or feet. These are areas where it's more likely to get an infection.

Urgent Care Can Help

If you have been cut, it's important that you get the urgent care help you need. Call or visit an urgent care center to determine if your cut requires care right away.