A wound is an emergency when bleeding will not stop with firm pressure, the injury is deep or gaping, bone or tendon is visible, an object is embedded, or the affected area becomes cold, pale, blue, or numb. Rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, fever with confusion, fainting, or trouble breathing can also signal an emergency. Call 911 or go to an emergency department; this page cannot determine the cause.
Call 911 for uncontrolled or spurting bleeding, a major crush or amputation injury, or a wound accompanied by fainting, breathing difficulty, or confusion. Go to an emergency department for a deep or widely open wound, exposed bone or tendon, an embedded object, an animal or human bite with severe injury, or loss of movement or feeling.
A wound with rapidly expanding redness or swelling, red streaks, severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever, shaking chills, unusual sleepiness, or new confusion needs immediate evaluation. Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection and cannot be ruled out at home.
For bleeding, apply continuous firm pressure with clean cloth or gauze. Do not remove an embedded object, probe a deep wound, or delay care to clean it extensively. If blood soaks through, add material on top rather than repeatedly lifting the first layer.
Do not wait for a routine wound appointment when any of these are present.
Call 877-545-1300 or request a provider to begin care. Healix360 serves Southern California and Nevada and accepts Medicare Part B and most major insurance plans.