This is not a diagnosis
This tool only gives a general orientation based on the details you enter. It never replaces the judgement of a doctor, nurse or emergency service, and it cannot examine the wound the way a professional can. If bleeding cannot be controlled, if the wound is deep, large, on the face or over a joint, or if you have any doubt at all, seek medical care without delay. When in doubt, always consult a professional.
Enter the wound length, its estimated depth, its location, whether bleeding is under control, and the type of edges to see a general orientation toward likely self-care, a prompt consultation, or emergency care.
General orientation
This is a general orientation, not a diagnosis
This orientation is based only on the details you entered and does not replace an in-person examination. It never tells you to treat yourself with certainty, it only points to what is generally the probable next step. If bleeding cannot be controlled, if the wound is deep, large, on the face, over a joint, or if you are unsure in any way, seek medical care or emergency services without delay.
How to read this general orientation
This tool combines wound length, depth, location, edge type and bleeding control into a general orientation toward one of three likely next steps: simple home care, a prompt consultation, or emergency care. It never examines the wound itself, so it cannot replace what a doctor, nurse or paramedic sees and feels in person. Treat the result as a starting point for a decision, not as the decision itself.
UK emergency and advice numbers
If bleeding cannot be controlled, or an injury feels life-threatening, call 999 or go straight to your nearest A&E department. For a wound that worries you but is not immediately life-threatening, NHS 111 can advise whether you need to be seen and where, including a minor injuries unit or urgent treatment centre, which often deals with cuts needing steri-strips, glue or stitches without an A&E wait. A GP practice can also advise on wounds that are healing poorly or show signs of infection.
The time window for direct closure
Many wounds can only be closed directly, with stitches, staples or surgical glue, within a limited window after the injury, commonly cited as around 6 to 8 hours for most body areas. Beyond that, the risk of infection from closing the skin over bacteria rises, and a clinician may choose to leave the wound open to heal instead. The face and scalp have a much richer blood supply, so clinicians often still close wounds there well beyond that general window, since better circulation reduces infection risk. This is one more reason a facial wound should be seen promptly rather than waited out.
Adhesive strips versus stitches or surgical glue
Adhesive closure strips (often called steri-strips) hold the edges of a small, shallow, low-tension wound together from the outside once bleeding has stopped, and they are commonly used by professionals or under their guidance for wounds that do not need a deeper closure. Stitches, staples or surgical glue are generally needed when the wound is deep, gaping, under tension, on a joint that moves and stretches the skin, or long enough that strips would not hold the edges together reliably. A clinician is the one who decides which method fits a given wound, since the wrong choice can leave a gap where infection sets in or a scar that could have been avoided. Also check whether a tetanus booster is up to date, since many minor injuries units will ask about this as standard.
This tool is not a medical device and does not provide a diagnosis or a prescription. It does not replace a doctor, a nurse or emergency services. If bleeding cannot be controlled, or the wound is deep, large, on the face, over a joint, or if you have any doubt, seek medical care without delay. All calculations happen in your browser; nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.