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Call for an ambulance or visit the emergency room immediately if the cut:
Deep enough to see yellowish fat or bone.
Bleeding profusely.
Made from a high-pressure impact like a bullet or impaled by a foreign object.
Contaminated or resulting from a very dirty or rusty object.
Made from an animal or human bite.
(Does Your Cut Need Stitches? Find Out How to Tell, 2019)
Every year, 7-9 million Americans visit the ER for cut/lacerations each year.
Every year, 7-9 million Americans visit the ER for cut/lacerations each year.
(Singer, Adam J. et al, 2006)
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
hazardous work places and accidents
exposure to blunt or sharp objects
("Cuts and puncture wounds: MedlinePlus medical encyclopedia," 2021)
Common causes of cuts/lacerations
The causes of cuts and lacerations range from mundane to the extreme. They can be caused by everyday accidents like razor cuts, stepping on small objects, and falls. Or they can be caused by serious accidents like stabbings, car accidents and bites.
(Kahn, 2019)
Infections with cuts/lacerations
One of the major risks of a poorly/uncleaned laceration or cut. Bacteria may seep into the wound of a serious laceration if it is not properly cleaned, resulting in an infection. Symptoms of an infected laceration or cut include:
Redness around the wound that appears as streaks.
General sense of nausea.
A fever.
(Young, 2019)
Basic first aid for cuts/lacerations
The steps to prevent infection in cuts and lacerations are very simple and easy to do.
Stop bleeding from the wound by applying direction pressure.
Once bleeding stops, clean the wound with warm water and soap.
Apply antibiotic ointment if you can.
Cover with a bandage.
(Cuts or Lacerations Treatment, 2019)
Learn more about what to do in the event of a cut or laceration:
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