Burns, Scrapes, and Wounds: First Aid Basics and When You Need Professional Wound Care

From cooking burns and beach scrapes to deeper wounds that make you question whether you need stitches — knowing basic first aid and when to escalate to professional care can make the difference between a clean recovery and a complicated infection.

Burn Treatment: The Basics

For minor burns (first-degree — red skin without blisters), run cool (not cold) water over the burn for 10-15 minutes. Apply aloe vera or a burn-specific ointment. Cover loosely with a non-stick bandage. Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed.

Visit TrufaMED Urgent Care for burns that blister (second-degree), are larger than 3 inches across, are on the face, hands, feet, or joints, were caused by chemicals or electricity, or show signs of infection like increasing redness, swelling, or pus.

Wound Care: When to Treat at Home vs. Come In

Minor scrapes and shallow cuts can be cleaned with soap and water, treated with antibiotic ointment, and covered with a bandage. Change the bandage daily and watch for signs of infection.

Come to urgent care if the wound is deep, gaping, or will not stop bleeding. If you can see fat or tissue beneath the skin. If the wound is contaminated with dirt, rust, or debris. If it is a puncture wound, especially from a nail or animal. If your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago for a dirty wound, or 10 years for a clean wound.

Signs of Wound Infection

Watch for these signs in the days after an injury — they indicate the wound is infected and needs medical treatment. Increasing redness that spreads beyond the wound edges. Warmth around the wound. Swelling that is getting worse, not better. Pus or cloudy drainage. Red streaking extending from the wound. Fever. Increased pain rather than gradual improvement.

What We Provide at TrufaMED

Our wound care services include professional wound cleaning and debridement, tetanus booster administration, sutures, wound adhesive, or closure strips, burn dressing and treatment, antibiotic prescriptions for infected wounds, X-ray for suspected foreign bodies like glass or metal, and follow-up scheduling for wound checks and suture removal.

Wound that needs professional attention? Walk into TrufaMED at 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside or call (305) 537-6396.