Wounds
Most minor cuts, grazes and puncture wounds can be looked after at home. Some — deeper wounds, wounds with a foreign body in them, wounds that will not stop bleeding, animal bites, or a wound in someone who has not had a tetanus booster recently — need medical assessment. This section explains how to look after a wound and when to get help.
Get advice about your symptoms
If you are unwell and unsure what to do, use one of the routes below. They are free and available across the UK, and can direct you to the right service.
- Check your symptoms online at 111.nhs.uk
- Call 111 for free 24-hour advice from NHS 111
- Speak to a pharmacist for advice on minor problems — no appointment needed
- Contact your GP for non-urgent medical problems
Call 999 immediately in a life-threatening emergency — for example loss of consciousness, severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding or a suspected stroke.
What this section covers
- Basic wound care: clean, dress, watch for infection
- When bleeding will not stop — apply pressure and call 999 if severe
- Signs of infection to watch for
- Tetanus and when a booster is needed
- When to go to A&E or your local minor injuries unit
Explore this section
Choose a topic from the list below for more detail. Every page on NHS Direct is general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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In this section
- Animal bitesAnimal bites — first aid, infection risk, and why most bites need medical assessment.
- Cuts and grazesCuts and grazes — first aid, how to prevent infection, and when to get medical help for a…
- First aid for eye woundsEye wounds and injuries — what to do, what not to do, and why every eye injury should…
- High temperature with a woundFever alongside a wound may be a sign of infection — when to see a GP or call…
- Human bitesHuman bites carry a high infection risk and usually need medical assessment. What to do.
- Needlestick injuryNeedlestick injury — immediate first aid, when to go to A&E, and what happens next.
- Pain relief after a woundParacetamol and ibuprofen for wound pain — safe use and when to seek advice.