AFC’s Guide to Treating Cuts, Burns, and Other Injuries
Life happens, and sometimes that means dealing with unexpected injuries. Whether you’ve scraped your knee during a weekend hike, gotten a paper cut at work, or experienced a more serious wound, knowing how to care for injuries properly can make all the difference in healing quickly and avoiding complications.
At American Family Care, we see all types of wounds daily, from minor scrapes to injuries needing professional attention. This guide will help you understand different wound types, when to safely treat them at home, and when to seek medical care.
Common Types of Wounds We Treat
Cuts and Lacerations: These happen when something sharp breaks the skin. A cut is typically a clean, straight wound (think paper cut), while a laceration is usually jagged or irregular (like from broken glass).
Abrasions (Scrapes): These occur when skin rubs against a rough surface, the classic “road rash” from falling off a bike is a perfect example.
Burns: From touching a hot stove to staying in the sun too long, burns damage skin through heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation.
Puncture Wounds and Bites: These create small but potentially deep wounds. Animal bites, stepping on a nail, or getting poked by a thorn all fall into this category.
Bruises: While the skin isn’t broken, bruises happen when small blood vessels under the skin are damaged, causing that familiar black-and-blue mark.
When to Call 911 or Visit the Emergency Room
Important: Some wounds need immediate emergency care. Call 911 or go to the ER right away if:
- The wound is bleeding heavily and won’t stop after 10-15 minutes of direct pressure
- You can see fat, muscle, or bone in the wound
- The wound is on the face, joints, hands, genitals, or crosses major joints
- There’s a large or deep burn (bigger than 3 inches or very deep)
- You suspect a broken bone along with the wound
- The person shows signs of shock (pale, clammy skin, rapid breathing, confusion)
- There’s a severe animal bite, especially from a wild animal
- Any wound to the chest, abdomen, or neck
- The injured person has trouble breathing or loses consciousness
Symptoms That Need Professional Care
While not every wound needs emergency treatment, many benefit from professional medical attention. Knowing when to seek help can prevent complications and speed up healing.
Not all cuts are created equal. Small paper cuts usually heal fine on their own, but deeper wounds often need professional care. If your cut is longer than half an inch or you notice the wound’s edges pulling apart (gaping), it’s time to visit AFC.
Deep cuts that reveal yellow fat tissue beneath the skin definitely need medical attention, these won’t heal properly without stitches. Location matters too. Cuts on your face, over joints like knees or elbows, or on your hands need extra care because these areas move a lot and are prone to scarring. If bleeding continues after 10 minutes of firm, direct pressure, or if you can see debris in the wound that won’t rinse out, professional cleaning and treatment will help prevent infection.
Burns can be tricky to evaluate at home. First-degree burns (like mild sunburns) usually heal well with home care, but second-degree burns are more serious. These create blisters and need medical attention when they’re larger than 2-3 inches across – about the size of your palm.
Third-degree burns always require immediate medical care. You’ll recognize these because the skin looks white, charred, or leathery, and surprisingly, they might not hurt much because nerve endings are damaged. A medical professional should evaluate any burn on sensitive areas like your face, hands, feet, or over joints. Chemical burns from household cleaners or electrical burns also need immediate professional treatment, regardless of how small they appear.
Bite wounds are particularly important to treat because mouths harbor bacteria that can cause serious infections. Any human bite that breaks the skin needs medical attention, these tend to get infected more often than animal bites. For animal bites, seek care if the wound is deep, if you don’t know the animal (rabies concern), or if it’s from a cat (their teeth create deep puncture wounds that trap bacteria).
Puncture wounds might look small on the surface, but they can be deep and introduce bacteria far into tissues. Professional care is important if you’ve stepped on a nail, been poked by a dirty or rusty object, or can’t remove something like a splinter completely. These wounds are also a concern for tetanus, so if your last tetanus shot was more than 5-10 years ago, you’ll need a booster.
Sometimes, a wound that seems minor at first can develop problems. Watch for infection signs 24-48 hours after injury. Increasing pain, redness that spreads beyond the immediate wound area, or swelling that gets worse instead of better, all signal possible infection.
More serious infection signs may include red streaks extending from the wound (this could indicate the infection is spreading through your lymph system), pus or cloudy drainage, a fever over 100.4°F, or a foul odor from the wound. If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t wait—infection can spread quickly and needs prompt antibiotic treatment.
Home Treatment for Minor Wounds
- Stop the Bleeding: Apply gentle, direct pressure with a clean cloth for 5-10 minutes. Elevate the area if possible.
- Clean the Wound: Once bleeding stops, gently rinse with clean water. You don’t need hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, these can actually damage healthy tissue and slow healing.
- Apply Antibiotic Ointment: A thin layer of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment can help prevent infection.
- Cover the Wound: Use an appropriate bandage. Change it daily and whenever it gets wet or dirty.
- Watch for Infection: Check the wound daily for signs of infection.
For Scrapes and Abrasions: Keep them moist with antibiotic ointment and covered. This speeds healing and reduces scarring.
For Minor Burns: Run cool (not ice cold) water over the burn for 10-15 minutes. Don’t use ice, butter, or other home remedies. Cover loosely with a clean, dry bandage.
For Bruises: Apply ice wrapped in a thin towel for 10-15 minutes several times a day for the first 24-48 hours. After that, gentle heat can help.
For Splinters: If you can see the entire splinter, you can try removing it with clean tweezers. Pull in the same direction it entered. Seek medical care if it’s deep, breaks off, or you can’t get it all out.
Professional Wound Care at AFC
When you visit AFC Urgent Care for wound treatment, here’s what you can expect:
Assessment and Cleaning
Our medical team will thoroughly examine your wound, checking its depth, location, and any signs of damage to underlying structures. We’ll professionally clean the wound to remove debris and reduce infection risk.
Closure Methods
Depending on your wound, we might use:
- Stitches (Sutures): For deep cuts that need to be held together
- Staples: Often used for scalp wounds or straight lacerations
- Medical Adhesive: For smaller cuts in low-stress areas
- Steri-Strips: Adhesive strips for minor lacerations
Additional Services
- Tetanus shots if you’re not up to date
- X-rays to check for foreign objects or fractures
- Prescription antibiotics if needed
- Pain management
- Detailed wound care instructions
Follow-Up Care
We also provide:
- Wound checks to ensure proper healing
- Stitch, staple, and suture removal (typically 5-14 days after placement)
- Treatment for any complications
Wound Healing: What to Expect
Understanding the healing process helps you know what’s normal:
Days 1-3: The wound may be red, swollen, and tender. This is your body’s inflammatory response, starting the healing process.
Days 4-21: New tissue forms, and the wound gradually closes. Itching is common and actually a good sign of healing.
Week 3 and beyond: The wound continues strengthening. A scar may form, initially pink or red, then fade over months.
Preventing Wound Complications
Follow these tips for the best healing:
- Keep the wound clean and dry
- Change bandages as directed
- Take any prescribed antibiotics completely
- Avoid picking at scabs
- Protect healing wounds from the sun
- Eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein and vitamin C
- Don’t smoke – it significantly slows healing
- Follow up as recommended
Special Considerations
Kids heal faster than adults but are more likely to pick at wounds. Keep wounds covered and distract active children from touching healing injuries.
If you have diabetes, even minor wounds need extra attention as they heal more slowly and are more prone to infection. See a healthcare provider for any wound that doesn’t show improvement within 24 hours.
Older adults may have thinner skin and slower healing. They should be extra vigilant about wound care and infection prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
While every wound is different, healthcare providers typically recommend seeking medical evaluation for wounds that appear deep (where fat or deeper tissues may be visible), are longer than 1/2 inch, have edges that pull apart, or are located on sensitive areas like the face, joints, hands, or genitals. A medical professional can properly assess whether stitches are necessary for optimal healing.
The timing for stitch removal varies based on the wound location and individual healing. Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions based on your situation. Generally, medical professionals may recommend removal within 3-5 days for facial wounds, 7-10 days for scalp wounds, 10-14 days for arms and legs, and around 14 days for wounds over joints. However, these are general guidelines; your provider will determine the best timing for your case.
Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions about bathing and showering. In many cases, gentle showering may be permitted after the first 24-48 hours, but following your provider’s guidance is important. They may recommend patting the area dry gently and avoiding soaking in baths, pools, or hot tubs until cleared.
While healing varies by individual, healthcare providers often suggest keeping wounds moist during healing, protecting them from sun exposure, avoiding picking at scabs, and following all care instructions provided. Some individuals may benefit from specialized scar treatment products after the wound has closed. Consult with your healthcare provider about the best approach for your specific situation.
Tetanus vaccination recommendations depend on your vaccination history and the type of wound. The CDC recommends tetanus boosters every 10 years, though certain wounds may require earlier boosters. Your healthcare provider can review your vaccination history and the nature of your wound to determine if a tetanus shot is recommended in your case.
Your Partner in Wound Care
When life’s little (and not-so-little) accidents happen, you don’t have to figure it out alone. At American Family Care, we’re here seven days a week to provide professional wound care when you need it most. No appointment necessary, just walk in, and our experienced medical team will take care of you.
From cleaning and closing wounds to removing stitches and managing complications, we make wound care simple and stress-free. Plus, with on-site X-rays and labs, we can handle everything in one visit, getting you back to your life as quickly as possible.
Don’t let a wound slow you down. Visit your nearest AFC for professional wound care you can trust. We’re here when you need us, because the best time for wound care is now.
