Emergency Care / 11.10.2024

You'll unlikely need medical attention when you get a small paper cut or bruise, but exceptions can occur even with minor injuries. Sometimes, cuts require stitches or professional cleaning. Germs or bacteria can also enter a seemingly small cut, leading to a more extensive infection. It can be difficult to tell at times when to seek professional medical care when you get hurt. There are some telltale signs from your body indicate whether you should head to the hospital or urgent care. This list is not all-inclusive, but a guide to some of the more common injuries. Remember if you are unsure about the seriousness of an injury, it is better to seek medical care than wait.

Prolonged Bleeding

When you receive a cut or scrape, bleeding is normal. After about ten minutes, most of the bleeding should stop, though some small blood trickles can continue for up to an hour. After this time frame, additional bleeding should cause concern, especially if the bleeding is excessive, even after applying pressure for at least twenty minutes. If there is any debris in the cut, this can make bleeding worse; if you can’t remove it yourself, you’ll also need medical attention. (more…)