Cuts

Do you have moderate bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying steady, direct pressure for 15 minutes?

Do you have mild bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying direct pressure 3 times for 15 minutes each time (45 minutes total)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is your skin pale and cold to the touch (pallor) below a cut injury?

Do you have tingling, burning, numbness, or a "pins-and-needles" feeling (paresthesia) below a cut injury?

Do you have severe pain?

Do you have decreased blood flow below a cut based on the pinch test?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you unable to move your limb normally (not because of pain) below the cut injury?

Do you have tingling, numbness, or loss of feeling below the cut injury, not just at the site of the cut?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have broken skin over a bone that may be broken?

Is a bone poking through the skin or visible in the wound?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you unable to remove an object from a cut? Note: You may be unable to remove an object because:Of the location and depth of the cut. Of uncertainty about the depth of the cut.Removing the object will cause severe pain.

Do you think an object is still in the cut and you are unable to remove it?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have a deep cut on the face, neck, chest, or belly?

Are muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bones visible?

Do you have a deep cut over a joint? Note: This is especially important if the cut opens with movement of the joint and if fat, muscle, bone, ligament, or joint structures are visible.

Do you have a deep cut on another area of the body?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has the full tip of a finger or toe been cut off and bone is visible?

Have all the layers of the skin been removed (avulsion injury) in an area that is or larger in diameter?

Have all the layers of skin of the tip of a finger or toe been removed in an area that is less than in diameter?

Have all the layers of skin over a joint been removed?

Do you have a cut that opens or increases in size when you move?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe swelling or bruising?

Did a lot of swelling and bruising begin within 30 minutes of the injury and symptoms have not gone away?

Did swelling begin after a cut over a joint?

Has swelling from a cut (not over a joint) gotten worse after 24 hours of home treatment?

Have you had a moderate amount of swelling from a cut for 2 to 3 days, but it does not interfere with normal function?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a deep cut?

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a cut over a joint?

Do you have a cut over a joint and increased pain with movement of the joint?

Do you have red streaks extending from a cut over a joint?

Has a cut over a joint become more tender to the touch?

Do you have any drainage of pus from a cut over a joint?

Do you have a cut over a joint and think you have a fever ?

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have a cut on a leg or foot and peripheral arterial disease?

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the cut?

Is the area around your cut increasingly tender to the touch?

Do you have red streaks extending from the cut?

Do you have pus in or around the cut?

Do you have a fever?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a cut for 48 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen lymph nodes near a cut for 2 weeks or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have a cut because someone hurt you on purpose?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you unable to adequately clean a cut at home because it is large or deep?

Are you unable to adequately clean a cut at home because cleaning causes too much pain?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have a cut more than deep and long with jagged edges or the cut gapes open?

Do you have a cut on the face, eyelids, lips, or another area that you are worried may scar?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots (primary vaccination series)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.