First things first, if you or someone your with is cut, elevate the wound and apply direct pressure. Only apply a tourniquet if the blood flow is out of control, and never remove a tourniquet that has been applied. Next, whether you need to go to the ER or an urgent care center, have someone else drive you if possible. And lastly, if you feel this is an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

With all that said, accidentally giving yourself a nasty cut can happen so easily, while you're cooking a meal, working on your car, or a thousand other different ways. Did you know that even if you think your cut needs stitches, you may not need to go to ER? Urgent care centers are capable of treating cuts and providing stitches provided that the wound isn't serious.

Urgent care centers are staffed with competent medical professionals, with usually a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant in charge. They are more than capable of treating any minor injuries that still require prompt medical attention. To determine whether the cut in question requires the ER or an urgent care center, refer to the following list:

Urgent Care

  • the wound is open enough that it might require stitches
  • there is nothing in the wound
  • the bleeding is mild and controllable
  • the cut is not on the face, genitals, or any other sensitive area

Emergency Room

  • you see yellow skin tissue
  • the object that cut or punctured you is still in the wound
  • heavy or uncontrollable bleeding
  • the cut is on the face, genitals, or any other sensitive area

Examine the cut. If you can see yellow within the cut, the cut has penetrated into the subcutaneous fat below the surface skin. A cut this deep requires a trip to the emergency room. However, if the wound is only open enough that it might require stitches, then they may be able to take care of it at an urgent care facility.

Is the object that cut or punctured you still in the wound? If so, do not remove it. The object could have punctured a blood vessel. This requires a trip to the emergency room, even if there isn't much blood. 

You also need to consider how much blood is coming from the wound. If you are able to control the blood flow by applying direct pressure or there isn't much blood present, they can probably take care of you at an urgent care facility.

Lastly, if the cut is across any of the joints, on the face, or the genitals, go to ER immediately. 

For more information, contact a local urgent care clinic.

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