Injured? Here’s How to Stop a Cut From Bleeding and When to Get Help

Cuts happen to everyone: a slip of the knife while cooking, a slice while picking up broken glass, a nick while working with something sharp. The next thing you know, you have a cut that just won’t stop bleeding. 

A bleeding cut can look pretty dramatic. In the moment, it can be hard to know what to do next. The good news is you can stop most bleeding cuts with simple first-aid measures at home. 

Here’s how to safely (and quickly) stop a cut from bleeding — and how to know when you really need to get help from a medical professional. 

What should you do if you have a bleeding cut?

Most cuts people get at home are (thankfully) minor wounds. They might bleed, but they can be treated at home with simple steps and items in a regular first-aid kit. 

Following these steps can stop a cut from bleeding — and prevent infection too. 

1. Wash your hands

First, wash your hands with soap and water. Don’t skip this step, even if the cut is on your hand or finger. Washing your hands gets germs off your hands. When you’re cleaning and dressing your cut, you don’t want any of these germs to get into your wound. This can lead to an infection.

2. Apply pressure

This is a critical step in stopping a cut from bleeding. Most people underestimate how long this step takes. Using a clean cloth — paper towels, tissue, and gauze work too — put direct pressure on your cut. Press down for 10 minutes. You don’t have to press down so hard that you cause yourself pain and cut off circulation. But you do need to apply firm pressure. 

When you apply pressure, you’re pressing the blood vessel against muscle and bone to cut off the blood flow to your cut for a short time. When you get a cut, your body automatically starts to build a clot to stop the bleeding. When you apply pressure, the blood backs up a bit at the site of your cut. This gives more signals to your blood cells to build a clot. 

You also want to elevate your wound about 6 inches so blood has to fight against gravity to move. This makes your blood pool a little more and slows bleeding down while a clot forms. If your cut is on your hand or finger, elevate your wound above the level of your heart (about breastbone height). If your cut is on your lower limb, lift your leg off the ground.

Here’s another critical piece of advice: Use a timer. When you’re stressed and in pain, 10 minutes feels like a long time. But your blood cells need that time to form a solid clot. If you stop applying pressure too soon, that partially formed clot can get dissolved when the blood flow starts again. And then you have to start all over. 

3. Clean your cut

Once you’ve applied pressure for 10 minutes, give yourself another 5 minutes to make sure all bleeding has stopped. If you don’t see any oozing, it’s time to start cleaning your wound.

Time those extra 5 minutes. If you start cleaning too soon, you can break down your clot. 

First, rinse your cut with running water, which washes off germs. Then clean the area around your cut with soap and water too. 

You don’t need to use antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. These can actually damage the healthy tissue around the cut. 

You don’t need antibiotic ointment either. Experts don’t recommend antibiotic ointment for the kinds of cuts most people get at home. Ointments can cause skin irritation and may slow down healing.

4. Cover your cut

Put a clean bandage, like a Band-Aid, over your cut. You may be able to try medical-grade glue as well. This keeps bacteria and germs out of your wound and can help promote healing. Avoid non-medical-grade glue, which can lead to irritation and prolong healing. 

After 24 hours, you can apply some Vaseline to keep the area moist. Researchers have found that a moist environment may boost healing.

When should you get medical care for a cut?

Sometimes, first aid just isn’t enough to treat a cut. Some wounds need urgent medical attention. And some people are more prone to serious health complications, even from minor wounds. In these cases, people need to see a healthcare provider immediately for wound treatment.

Here are some reasons you should go to an urgent care center or emergency room for a cut.

1. Large or deep cuts

Cuts that are longer than half an inch usually need to be closed with stitches or medical-grade glue. 

Deep cuts also need urgent attention. If you can see fat, muscle, or bone, go to an emergency room right away, even if your cut is small. Don’t push any tissue sticking out back into a wound. This can increase the risk of infection.

In rare cases, a deep wound may hit an artery. These cuts spurt blood and can lead to severe bleeding or hemorrhage. Go to an emergency room right away if you think you hit an artery, even if your cut is small.

2. Bites

Animal bites are very prone to infection and need treatment with antibiotics. See a healthcare provider within 8 hours if you have any animal bite, even if it’s small and not bleeding. Human bites and cat bites are most likely to get infected. 

3. ‘Dirty wounds’

If you’ve cut yourself with an object, like a tool or a piece of metal outside, the bacteria on these objects can get into your wound and cause an infection. Cuts and punctures from objects are called “dirty wounds.” These wounds need to be cleaned more thoroughly to prevent infection. You might also need a tetanus shot. 

4. Cuts in certain places

Cuts on certain parts of the body need special care to make sure they heal correctly. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have a cut on your:

• Face

• Lip

• Fingers or hands

• Genitals

• Joint (elbows, knees, ankles)

The provider can help you figure out if you need stitches or other care. They may be able to do a video visit and look at your cut directly. They can give you advice on whether or not you need to go to an urgent care center or emergency room for care. 

5. Medications and medical conditions

If you have certain medical conditions or take certain medications, you may need medical attention to stop your cut from bleeding and to prevent infection. Call your healthcare provider right away if you:

• Have a bleeding disorder

• Have a weakened immune system

• Have diabetes

• Are taking blood thinners, including aspirin (which can increase your chance for bleeding)

Your provider can let you know if you should seek emergency care or try to care for the cut at home. 

6. First aid isn’t working

If you’ve followed all the first-aid steps and your cut is still bleeding, it’s time to get professional help. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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