Treat injuries at home and save money.
Some injuries need a trip to the emergency room or urgent care, while others you may be able to handle at home. Treat minor injuries without going to the doctor.
Do You Need Stitches?
If bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes, the wound is large, deep, or has other factors outlined here, you may need stitches for it to properly heal. If the wound doesn’t merit stitches you may be able to close the wound with a butterfly bandage, steri-strips, or super glue. Find tips on how to super glue a wound closed here.
Puncture Wounds
Puncture wounds more often need medical attention if they are deep or involve dirty sources such as an animal bite or a rusty nail. If you are unsure when your last tetanus shot was go get one. If the wound doesn’t need medical attention, but you do need a tetanus shot, most walk-in doc-in-a-box clinics can provide the needed shot. You may have to pay for an office call to receive the shot. Pharmacies don’t always carry tetanus shots for adults, you may want to call ahead to see if your local pharmacy offers them.
Sprains
First, you need to determine if it is sprained or broken. If you are unsure it probably warrants a trip to a provider. If you are sure it is only sprained, in most cases these can be handled with DIY care. Ice, rest, and some form of bracing are usually enough to heal a sprain.
Sprained wrists: This explains how to wrap with an ace bandage.
A premade splint can be used, we like these for easy on and off.
Kinesio tape can also be used to support sprains, this explains how to tape a wrist.
Sprained ankles: How to wrap with an ace bandage.
A premade splint can be used, we like these.
Kinesio tape can be used to support sprains, this explains how to tape a sprained ankle.
Sprained fingers: Sprained fingers can be taped with medical tape.
Finger splints can be used to immobilize a finger while it heals.
Sprained fingers can also be supported with kinesio tape, but you will probably need help applying it.
Burns
Serious burns should always be taken to a medical provider. Some minor burns can be treated at home. Silver sulfadiazine is one of the best treatments for minor burns and is now available over the counter. This handout explains when burns need to be seen by a doctor.
Bruises
Most bruises don’t require a doctor, if they are extremely large, on certain parts of the body or appear to have lumps in them, you may want to seek medical care. For less severe bruises arnica is the secret treatment used by athletes and martial artists to speed bruise healing.
Be Prepared
Don’t wait until you are dealing with an injury to try to gather supplies. Make sure you have some basics stocked at home like burn cream, butterfly bandages, kinesio tape, a variety pack of bandages, antibiotic and allergy topical treatments, and something for bruises.