Think You Need Stitches? See Our Urgent Care for These Common Cuts.

No one plans to get cut or hurt, but accidents happen. Maybe your finger slipped while chopping vegetables or your child fell off their bike. When can you simply bandage it up and when do you need stitches?

Common cuts that need stitches

From the size of a wound to its location, there are a lot of signs that can tell you whether you need stitches. If you or a loved one has a cut with the following characteristics, please visit Pomona Valley Urgent Care for stitches as soon as possible:

• The wound if very deep (even if it’s not very long or wide)
• The wound is more than half of an inch long
• The wound is too wide to press the edges back together with pressure
• The wound has uneven edges
• The wound has debris in it (e.g., gravel, glass, or dirt)
• The wound bleeds enough to soak through a bandage
• The wound is spurting blood
• The wound continues to bleed after you apply direct pressure to it for 10 minutes

Does my cut need stitches?

If you’ve been cut in any of the following areas, it’s best to seek medical attention and stitches to avoid infection or scarring:

• Around a joint (e.g., elbows, knees)
• Face
• Hand
• Genitals
• Mouth
• Near the eyes

Tips for handling cuts before going to urgent care

If you’re fairly certain your cut needs stitches, here are a few things to keep in mind before you visit the Pomona Valley Urgent Care in Chino Hills, Claremont or La Verne:

• Do not remove any debris. Leave it as is to prevent excess bleeding.
• Clean the wound with tap water. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or iodine.
• Use a clean towel or bandage and apply direct pressure to the wound.
• If possible, keep the wounded area above the heart to help slow or stop the bleeding.
• If blood soaks through the dressing, do not remove it. Apply another on top.

Our Pomona Valley Urgent Care locations are open 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday through Friday and 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays. No appointments necessary. Visit our urgent care center for expert stitches and urgent care services today.