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Wounds and Injuries
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Skin Hair Nails

Wounds and Injuries

Injuries range from minor cuts to life‑threatening wounds, and proper care—including cleaning and medical attention when needed—is essential for healing.

Overview

An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life‑threatening. Injuries can happen at work or play, indoors or outdoors, while driving a car, or walking across the street.

Wounds

Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. They often happen because of an accident, but surgery, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but it is important to clean them. Serious and infected wounds may require first aid followed by a visit to your doctor. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, you cannot close it yourself, you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or it does not heal.

Common Types of Injuries

  • Animal bites
  • Bruises
  • Burns
  • Dislocations
  • Electrical injuries
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Sprains and strains

Frequently Asked Questions

Normal healing involves mild redness, slight swelling, and the formation of a scab. Signs of infection include increasing redness that spreads outward from the wound, warmth to the touch, throbbing pain, or the presence of yellow or green pus. If you develop a fever, chills, or red streaks moving up the limb from the wound, this indicates a systemic infection and requires immediate medical evaluation.
dhesive strips are generally suitable for minor cuts that are less than one inch long, have clean edges, and bleed only lightly. You should seek emergency care if the wound is deep, gaping, or located on the face, hands, or joints. Immediate medical attention is also required if the bleeding does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of direct pressure, if the wound was caused by a rusty object or animal bite, or if you have not had a tetanus shot in the last five to ten years.
For a deep puncture wound, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth to control bleeding, but do not dig into the wound to remove the object if it is still embedded. Cover the area with a sterile dressing and seek medical attention promptly. Puncture wounds are high-risk for tetanus and deep tissue infections like osteomyelitis, so a clinician may need to clean the wound thoroughly, remove foreign bodies, and update your tetanus vaccination if necessary.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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