Injuries can occur at any time. If you suffer a wound, you might wonder whether your injury will heal on its own with basic first aid, if it can wait until your family doctor is available, or if you need to go to an urgent care clinic. Here are a few ways to tell if a wound is serious enough to require immediate medical attention.

Factors That Determine Whether Your Wound Needs Urgent Care

1. Location

Any wound that is near vital organs needs to be taken seriously and should prompt a visit to either the emergency room or an urgent care facility, depending on the severity. Head wounds in particular cause heavy bleeding, so they should be assessed right away to determine the severity, and if they are on the face, time is a crucial factor in minimizing scarring. Because of the densely packed nerves in the hands and feet, wounds to these areas need to be treated promptly to lower the risk of permanent damage.

2. Source

If it seems likely that the wound is contaminated, a trip to an urgent care clinic can mean the difference between a speedy recovery and a serious illness. If the wound was caused by an object that has been exposed to rust, dirt, or feces, such as is often the case with fishhook injuries, there is a high risk of a bacterial infection, including tetanus.

3. Symptoms

With any wound, some pain and bleeding are to be expected, but if the bleeding does not stop or at-home pain management is not working, seek medical help right away. If the skin is pulled apart, or the wound is deep enough that muscle or fat is exposed, stitches may be required.

MediCenter in Kenai, AK, is a family medicine clinic that provides quality medical care for a wide range of non-life threatening ailments. In addition to their walk-in urgent care unit, they offer help for pain management and primary care services. Review more of these offerings online. Call (907) 283-9118 with questions.