The wound is deep enough that you can see fat, muscle, or bone
The edges of the wound are gaping open and do not stay closed
The cut is longer than about 1/2 inch and appears deep
Bleeding does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm, direct pressure
The wound is on the face, eyelid, lip, or another area where scarring matters
The cut is on a joint or over a moving area and keeps reopening
The wound is caused by a bite from a person or animal
The wound has dirt, glass, metal, or another object embedded in it
The injury is from a puncture, crush, or high-force impact
The wound is from a sharp object and the edges are clean but separated
You cannot fully clean the wound or remove debris
You have numbness, trouble moving the area, or suspect tendon or nerve damage
The wound is on the hand, foot, or genitals and is deep or gaping
The cut is from a dirty or rusty object and may need medical evaluation
The wound shows signs of infection such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever
You are not up to date on tetanus vaccination and the wound is dirty or deep