First Aid 101: What You Can Treat at Home (and What Needs a Doctor)
If you have a non-life-threatening injury or illness (like a cut, burn, or possible respiratory illness) and your primary care provider isn’t available, when should you seek urgent care? Jacob Szafranski, MD, a seasoned urgent care physician at Urgent Care – Foster Family Community Health Center in Traverse City, shares practical advice on when to opt for urgent care, and how to treat symptoms that aren’t quite urgencies at home.
Cuts & Stitches: Timing, Treatment, and When to Worry
If you cut yourself, but you’re not sure whether you need stitches or some simple at-home care, a few key symptoms or conditions can help guide your decision.
When to Seek Urgent Care for a Cut
- The cut won’t stop bleeding
- The cut is more than 1–2 inches long
- Deep cuts, where underlying tissue or bone could be impacted
- The wound contains or may have been exposed to grease, dirt, metal, glass, etc.
- Your pain is increasing
- The wound is looking worse in appearance
- You’re on blood thinners
Cuts aren't always clear-cut. If you’re still unsure, seek care, even if several hours have passed.
“There’s a myth that cuts need to be stitched within 12 hours to prevent infection – but that’s not always true, Dr. Szafranski explains.” If you have a cut that’s more than one to two inches long, seeking care within twelve hours is ideal, but don’t assume we can’t help if you’re past that window. If you have a cut that won’t stop bleeding, don’t hesitate to seek urgent care.”
At-Home Care Tips for Cuts
If your cut doesn’t require urgent care or you injure yourself after hours, proper care goes a long way to stop or slow bleeding, prevent wound contamination, and put you on the fast track to healing. Here’s what to do:
Rinse the wound with tap water. "There’s an old saying, ‘Dilution is the solution to pollution,’” Dr. Szafranski says. “Don’t worry about the best water or using a special solution. Sterile water or saline haven’t shown better outcomes.”
But do avoid certain topicals and soaps. Hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or antibacterial soap can damage healing skin. Instead, focus on keeping the injury moist.
“Wounds heal better when moist,” Dr. Szafranski says. “Keep them covered with Vaseline, Aquaphor, or cocoa butter. Don’t let them dry out.”
Burns: What to Do Immediately
Burns are common – especially in the kitchen or around grills and bonfires. No matter how severe the burn, acting quickly can reduce its impact.
First Steps
- Cool the area with cool (not ice-cold) water immediately.
- If clothing is involved, run water over the clothing first, then gently remove it.
- If fabric is melted to the skin, don’t pull it off. Cover with a cool, wet towel and seek care.
- Apply an ice pack over the cool towel to help ease pain.
With few exceptions, the size of the burn is a good indicator of whether urgent care is needed.
Large Burns (Over 2 Inches) or Deep Burns
Once you run cool water over the burn and assess the size, burns that are a few inches or more in size generally need treatment unless you don’t have pain.
During treatment, your provider can remove debris and dead tissue as well as monitor you for infection.
Small Burns (Under 2 Inches)
Smaller burns can generally be treated at home through cool water, ointment, and a bandage to prevent contamination.
“We rarely need to treat small burns unless they’re deep or they’re on your face,” Dr. Szafranski says. “Then we check for eye or nose involvement.”
A word of caution: Don’t pop any blisters that form. It’s part of the body’s natural response to protect the skin by surrounding the wound with fluid to keep it cool and prevent infection.
Upper Respiratory Illness
There’s nothing like the dreaded feeling of coming down with something – especially if that something could be more serious, like the flu or COVID-19.
But when should you call your family doctor or head to urgent care? Are there telltale signs that you’re dealing with more than a common cold and need care beyond rest and fluids? Dr. Szafranski has some tips.
Signs of Flu
The flu will typically include a cough, congestion, and/or runny nose accompanied by one or more of the following:
- Body aches
- Fever
- Chills
“If someone says, ‘I'm just hurting all over,’ and they have a fever, it’s likely the flu,” says Dr. Szafranski.
Unlike the common cold, you can be tested for the flu and doctor-prescribed antiviral medications like Tamiflu can help ease symptoms and even shorten the duration of illness if taken early (within the first few days of flu symptoms).
Flu preventatives can also be prescribed to your loved ones who may have been exposed and are more at risk for hospitalization due to factors such as age.
COVID Clues
COVID-19 symptoms can mirror those of cold and flu, with symptoms like a cough, congestion or runny nose, sore throat, chills, fever, and body aches. What typically indicates COVID-19 are additional symptoms like shortness of breath or labored breathing, as well as loss of taste or smell.
Still, these overlapping symptoms can make it hard to know if urgent care is needed. However, if you’re struggling with flu-like symptoms or breathing difficulties, urgent care providers can help rule out other viral infections, make treatment recommendations, and escalate to the Emergency Department if needed. Either way, serious symptoms shouldn’t be dismissed.
“We’ve sent patients to the hospital who didn’t think their symptoms were serious. Don’t ignore them,” Dr. Szafranski advises.
Urgent Care Can Help
If you have an injury or illness, but you’re in doubt, head to your nearest Munson Healthcare urgent care or walk-in clinic. Our experts can diagnose and treat a variety of symptoms, as well as send you to the Emergency Department if needed.
In addition, urgent care visits come with numerous benefits, including:
- Faster access to care for non-life-threatening issues
- Lower co-pays (or flat fees if you don’t have insurance)
- Many Munson Healthcare urgent care/walk-in clinics have on-site doctors and X-ray capabilities