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Here comes the blood! You just cut yourself — or your kid did — and the pain is awful. So are the optics: a gash in the skin, seemingly never-ending blood flowing or spurting. Does your cut need urgent care, including stitches? Or is it something that will heal on its own?
If you or your child need care urgently, our expert medical providers at First Response Urgent Care see you as soon as possible to get you the attention and treatment you need. Cuts and lacerations may need stitches at one of our two offices in Brooklyn, New York, to stop the bleeding and start the healing.
Does that cut need stitches? Read this guide so you’ll be prepared when the next accident happens.
Shallow cuts and gashes likely will heal on their own. However, a deep cut probably needs stitches, even if it’s not long.
A deep cut is defined as one that goes through all layers of your skin. The cut may expose yellow fatty tissue, muscle, bone, or tendons. Deep wounds are more susceptible to infection. We stitch them closed to keep you safe and to aid in healing.
Even if the cut is relatively shallow, you may still need stitches if it’s extra long. If you notice that the gash is more than three-quarters of an inch long, come to urgent care right away.
Cuts on joints may need stitches just because the constant movement of the joint may complicate its healing. Depending on how deep or long the cut is, you may also need to immobilize the joint while the stitches help it heal.
If you or your child gets cut on the face, stitches may stop the cut or gash from causing a scar. You should have all facial lacerations evaluated quickly to ensure proper cosmetic results.
Finally, cuts in these areas may require emergency care. Call 911 immediately if there’s a deep, bleeding gash on your:
If there are objects or debris lodged in the throat or eye, don’t remove them. Get to the ER ASAP.
If bleeding is so heavy that it doesn't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure, you need stitches. Spurting blood can be an emergency situation so call 911 immediately.
If the edges of the cut are jagged or gaping, they may need stitches to close them and allow proper healing. Dirty cuts filled with debris such as dirt, glass, or gravel also need medical care for proper cleansing, disinfection, and closure.
Untreated dirty wounds have a higher risk of developing bacterial infections. If a dirty object caused the cut, seek professional care.
Even if you’ve cleansed the wound yourself and you think it’s not deep, dirty, or long enough to require urgent care, be alert to signs of infection. These include:
If you think the wound might be infected, contact us immediately. Other reasons to go straight to urgent care or the ER include:
You may need a tetanus or rabies shot in addition to stitches.
Always err on the side of caution and see us if you’re not sure if a cut needs stitches or not. We evaluate and treat your injury to ensure proper healing and minimal scarring.
When an accident happens, get the care and stitches you need by calling First Response Urgent Care or visiting our nearest Brooklyn office — we accept walk-in patients. For less urgent matters, you can use our online appointment form.
