Injuries of all types are a fact of life. They’re bound to happen to us at some point. But how do you know when an injury such as a deep wound requires a trip to urgent care and what can be treated at home?
At NewMed Immediate Care — with many office locations in the Rolling Hills, Illinois, area — our wound care and urgent care teams, led by Ruchir Thakker, DO, want to give you not only the criteria of when a deep wound requires quick medical attention, but also why it’s so necessary to do so.
An open wound is defined as any type of injury that involves a break in your bodily tissues, typically involving your skin. They happen to almost everyone at some point in their lives. The most common causes of open wounds involve falls, car accidents, and accidents involving sharp objects.
The four main types of open wounds are abrasions, lacerations, puncture wounds, and avulsions. While abrasions are typically minor wounds that are shallow, lacerations, puncture wounds, and avulsions are all deep wounds. Abrasions can typically be cared for at home, but the other three are probably going to require medical attention.
While it’s always safe to go in and have your wound examined, these are some criteria to give you some peace of mind about seeking treatment.
The first thing to consider is the location of your wound. Even if it’s small, any wound that’s located near a vital organ should be evaluated for any internal damage. The same goes for any wounds found on your hands, feet, face, or by any of your joints.
You should also take your symptoms into account. If your wound is more than one half inch deep and doesn’t stop bleeding after 20 minutes, you should come in and see us.
If you receive a deep wound from something that could be contaminated with rust or animal feces and you’re not up-to-date on your tetanus shot, you need to seek medical care. The same goes if you receive a bite from an animal.
If you’re still doubtful about whether or not your deep wound needs treatment, go ahead and come see us anyway. Because open wounds are at high risk for infection, it’s so important for them to be treated properly.
If you suspect your wound needs medical attention, don’t hesitate to come and see our urgent care team. We can provide you proper treatment depending on the severity and location of your wound.
To schedule an appointment with our team, you can give us a call or use our online booking tool. If your wound requires immediate attention, you can simply walk in for an appointment.
