Seek immediate professional medical care for any wound that may need suturing
Wash your hands thoroughly
Put on clean gloves if available
Apply direct pressure to control bleeding
Rinse the wound gently with clean water or sterile saline
Remove visible debris with clean, sterile tweezers if easily accessible
Do not stitch a wound that is deep, gaping, heavily contaminated, or over a joint without medical training
Do not stitch puncture wounds, animal bites, or wounds with signs of infection
Use sterile suturing equipment only
Clean the surrounding skin with antiseptic as directed by a medical professional
Align the wound edges carefully
Pass the needle through one side of the skin and then the other side at equal depth
Tie the suture securely without overly tightening
Place stitches evenly along the wound
Recheck that the skin edges are approximated without excessive tension
Cover the wound with a sterile dressing
Monitor for redness, swelling, pus, fever, worsening pain, or bleeding
Follow up for proper suture removal and wound care
Seek urgent care if bleeding will not stop, the wound is deep, or there is numbness or loss of function