Call 911 right away if:
- Bleeding is heavy, spurting, or doesn’t slow after 10 minutes of firm, steady pressure
- The wound is deep, gaping, or you can see fat, muscle, or bone
- Something is stuck deep in the wound (don’t pull it out)
What to do
- Wash your hands with soap and water, or put on disposable gloves if you have them.
- Stop the bleeding. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or bandage. Keep steady pressure for several minutes without lifting to check. Raise the area above the heart if you can.
- Clean the wound. Rinse it under clean running water. Wash around (not in) the wound with soap. Remove small dirt with tweezers cleaned with alcohol.
- Protect it. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment, then cover it with a sterile bandage.
- Change the dressing at least once a day, or whenever it gets wet or dirty.
Avoid
- Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine directly in the wound — they can irritate tissue.
- Don’t blow on the wound or remove a deeply embedded object.
See a doctor or go to urgent care if:
- The edges won’t stay together, or the cut is on the face, a joint, or the genitals (it may need stitches, ideally within a few hours)
- It was caused by an animal or human bite, a rusty or dirty object, or a puncture
- You haven’t had a tetanus shot in 5 years for a dirty wound (10 years for a clean one)
- Signs of infection appear — spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, red streaks, or fever