A cooking burn, a scrape from the sidewalk, a cut that has you wondering whether it needs stitches: most everyday wounds can be handled at home. The skill worth having is knowing which ones cannot. The difference between a clean recovery and an infection often comes down to the first ten minutes of care and one honest call about when to get seen.
This guide covers first aid for the injuries we treat most often at our Surfside urgent care: burns, cuts and scrapes, puncture wounds, and the beach and marine wounds that come with living on the water. It also lays out the specific warning signs that mean it is time to stop treating at home and walk in.
Burns: First Aid and the Three Degrees
Burns are graded by how deep they reach, and depth decides what you can safely manage yourself.
First-degree burns
These affect only the top layer of skin. It looks red and dry, feels painful, and does not blister. A mild sunburn is the most common example in South Florida. First-degree burns almost always heal on their own within a week.
Second-degree burns
These reach the layer beneath the surface. The skin blisters, looks wet or shiny, and hurts more. Small second-degree burns can be cared for at home, but get one evaluated if it is larger than 3 inches across, or if it sits on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over a joint, where scarring and stiffness matter most.
Third-degree burns
These destroy the full thickness of the skin. The area may look white, leathery, or charred, and it can feel numb because the nerve endings are damaged. This is an emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not treat a third-degree burn at home.
What to do in the first ten minutes
- Run cool (not cold) water over the burn for 10 to 20 minutes. Cool water stops the burn from going deeper.
- Take off rings, watches, and tight clothing near the burn before swelling starts.
- Cover it loosely with a clean, non-stick dressing.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
What not to do
- Do not put ice directly on a burn. It can cause further tissue damage.
- Do not apply butter, toothpaste, or oils. They trap heat and raise the infection risk.
- Do not pop blisters. Intact skin is the best barrier against infection.
- Do not peel away clothing that is stuck to the burn. Leave it and get seen.
Come in to our wound care team for burns that blister, are larger than 3 inches across, sit on the face, hands, feet, or joints, were caused by chemicals or electricity, or show signs of infection like spreading redness, swelling, or pus.
Cuts and Scrapes: Home Care and the Stitches Question
Minor scrapes and shallow cuts can be cleaned with soap and running water, treated with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment, and covered with a bandage. Change the dressing daily and keep an eye out for the infection signs below.
Does it need stitches?
Closing a wound properly protects against infection and gives a cleaner scar. Consider professional closure if any of these are true:
- The cut is deeper than about a quarter inch, or you can see fat, muscle, or bone.
- The edges gape open and do not fall back together on their own.
- It keeps bleeding after 10 minutes of steady, direct pressure.
- It crosses a joint, sits on the face, or is caused by glass or metal.
Timing matters. Most wounds that need closure should be treated within about 12 to 24 hours, so do not wait it out. If you are unsure, our team handles stitches and laceration care daily and can decide in a few minutes.
Puncture Wounds and Bites
Stepping on a nail, a deep splinter, or an animal or human bite all carry a higher infection risk than a simple cut, because the object drives bacteria deep and the small opening seals over it. Rinse the area, apply pressure if it is bleeding, and get it evaluated rather than treating it at home. Bites that break the skin, especially on the hand, should always be seen. They may need antibiotics and, in some cases, a tetanus or rabies assessment.
Beach and Marine Wounds
Living on the water in Surfside and Miami Beach means a specific set of scrapes and stings. Coral and barnacle cuts, a shell underfoot, a fish hook, or a brush against a sea urchin all share one problem: warm coastal water carries bacteria that raise the infection risk well above a cut you get at home.
For minor marine scrapes, rinse thoroughly with clean fresh water and remove any visible debris or spines you can reach. Then watch the wound closely. Any ocean-exposed injury that develops spreading redness, warmth, or swelling over the following hours needs to be seen promptly, because saltwater infections can move quickly. Deep coral cuts, an embedded fish hook, or a sting with worsening pain or swelling should be evaluated the same day.
Tetanus: When You Need a Booster
Tetanus protection fades over time. As a rule, you are due for a booster if your last one was more than 10 years ago for a clean, minor wound, or more than 5 years ago for a dirty or deep wound, such as a puncture or anything contaminated with soil, rust, or saliva. If you are not sure of your history, we can give the booster during your visit.
Signs a Wound Is Infected
Watch for these in the days after any injury. They mean the wound needs medical treatment, not more home care:
- Redness that spreads beyond the wound edges.
- Warmth around the wound.
- Swelling that is getting worse instead of better.
- Pus or cloudy drainage.
- A red streak extending away from the wound.
- Fever.
- Pain that increases rather than easing day by day.
A red streak spreading from a wound or a fever means you should be seen right away.
When Urgent Care Is Right, and When to Go to the ER
Urgent care is the right choice for the great majority of burns, cuts, scrapes, punctures, and infected wounds. We can clean, close, dress, X-ray, and prescribe on site, usually in a single visit with no appointment.
Go to an emergency room or call 911 instead for bleeding that will not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure, blood that spurts, third-degree burns, burns to the face or airway with any trouble breathing, deep wounds to the chest or abdomen, or a partial or complete amputation.
What We Provide at TrufaMED
There is a physician on every shift at our Surfside clinic, with on-site X-ray and lab testing. Our wound care services include professional cleaning and debridement, tetanus boosters, sutures, skin adhesive, and closure strips, burn dressing and treatment, antibiotics for infected wounds, X-ray to find foreign bodies like glass or metal, and follow-up visits for wound checks and suture removal. We also remove stitches placed elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to get a cut stitched?
Most wounds that need closure should be treated within about 12 to 24 hours. Sooner is better, both to lower the infection risk and to give a cleaner result.
Should I keep a wound covered or let it air out?
Keep it covered. A clean, slightly moist dressing protects the wound and helps it heal faster than letting it dry out and scab hard.
When is a burn bad enough to see a doctor?
See someone if the burn blisters, is larger than 3 inches, sits on the face, hands, feet, or a joint, or came from chemicals or electricity. Any burn that looks white or leathery is an emergency.
Can you remove stitches I got somewhere else?
Yes. Walk in and we will remove stitches placed at another clinic or hospital and check that the wound has healed properly.
Last reviewed: July 2026 by the physician team at TrufaMED Urgent Care. This article is general information, not a substitute for an in-person medical evaluation.
Have a wound that needs professional attention? Walk in to TrufaMED at 9445 Harding Avenue in Surfside, or call (305) 537-6396. See our full wound care services or meet our physician team.