When to Seek Medical Care

When to call the doctor

• If the wound will not stop bleeding after 5 minutes of direct pressure or is spurting blood, call your doctor.
  
  
• If the wound was caused by a nail, pen, or pencil, call your doctor to see if you need immediate care.
  
  
• If you are not sure when your last tetanus shot was, check with your doctor's office. You will need a tetanus shot if it has been more than 10 years since your last shot or if your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago and the wound has been contaminated with dirt.
  
  
• If you know part of the object remains in the wound, contact your doctor. You may need urgent care.

When to go to the hospital

Seek emergency medical attention in any of the following situations:

• If the wound is in the head, chest, or abdomen, unless it is very small
  
  
• If there is loss of feeling, numbness, or inability to move an arm or leg below the wound
  
  
• If the wound is more than 24 hours old and you develop signs of infection, such as redness at the area of the wound, swelling, pus drainage, fever over 100°F, or red streaks coming away from the wound
  
  
• If the wound does not stop bleeding after pressure is applied for 5 minutes
  
  
• If the wound has part of an object remaining in it, such as a pencil tip, nail, or piece of glass
  
  
• If a lot of dirt remains in the wound
  
  
• If the wound is gaping or there is white tissue (fatty tissue) or muscle visible
  
  
• If you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, or if you take steroids