Most everyday injuries belong in a walk-in clinic, not an emergency department. A clinic can close a cut with stitches or glue, treat a small burn, drain an abscess, remove a splinter or a tick, assess a sprain, order an X-ray for a suspected simple fracture, and give a tetanus booster. The things that must go to hospital are specific: bleeding that will not stop, a bone visibly deformed or through the skin, a limb that is cold, pale or numb, a deep wound to a hand, foot, joint or face, any burn that is large, deep, or involves the face, hands, genitals or airway, an eye injury, and an injury with something still embedded in it. One thing matters more than almost anything else: a cut that needs closing should be seen within hours, not tomorrow — the window closes and infection risk rises.
Cuts: does it need stitches?
| Likely needs closure | Usually fine with a dressing |
|---|---|
| Edges gape open and will not sit together | Edges sit together naturally |
| Longer than about 2 cm | Shallow scratch or graze |
| Deep enough to see fat, muscle or bone | Only the top layer of skin |
| Still bleeding after 10–15 minutes of firm pressure | Bleeding stops with brief pressure |
| On the face, or anywhere the scar matters | Small, in an unexposed area |
| Over a joint, where movement pulls it open | Away from joints and creases |
| Caused by something sharp and clean, with a straight edge | A minor abrasion |
| On the hand or near a tendon |
The time window matters. Cuts are generally best closed within several hours of the injury. After that, closing it may trap bacteria, so a clinician may choose to leave it open and dress it instead. Do not wait until tomorrow for a cut that gapes.
First aid before you come: firm continuous pressure with a clean cloth for 10–15 minutes without peeking, elevate the area, rinse gently with clean running water, cover it. Do not use hydrogen peroxide, iodine or alcohol inside the wound, and do not try to pull out anything embedded.
Burns
| Clinic can treat | Go to emergency |
|---|---|
| Small, superficial burns — red, painful, no blisters or small blisters | Any burn larger than the palm of the person’s hand |
| Minor scalds from hot liquid, limited in area | Deep burns — white, leathery, charred, or numb |
| Minor sunburn needing assessment | Any burn to the face, hands, feet, genitals or across a joint |
| Small friction burns | Any burn that encircles a limb |
| Follow-up dressing changes | Burns from chemicals, electricity or an explosion |
| Any suspicion of smoke inhalation — coughing, soot, a hoarse voice | |
| Any burn in a baby, or a frail older adult |
First aid, immediately: cool running water over the burn for 20 minutes — this works for up to three hours after the injury and genuinely reduces damage. Remove rings, watches and tight clothing before swelling starts. Cover loosely with cling film or a clean non-fluffy cloth.
Never: ice, butter, toothpaste, oil, or bursting blisters.
Sprains, strains and possible fractures
A clinic can: examine the joint, decide whether imaging is needed, write a same-day X-ray requisition, provide a splint, brace or crutches advice, and manage pain.
| Suggests a sprain | Suggests a fracture — still clinic, with an X-ray | Emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Can bear some weight | Cannot bear weight at all | Bone visibly deformed |
| Swelling and bruising, improving | Bony tenderness over one specific point | Bone through the skin |
| Pain on movement, not at rest | Pain at rest, worsening | Limb cold, pale, numb or pulseless |
| Gradual improvement over days | A snap or crack heard at the time | Joint dislocated |
| Visible swelling with deformity of shape | Open wound over a suspected fracture |
First aid: rest, ice for 15–20 minutes at a time with a cloth between ice and skin, compression with a bandage that is firm but not tight, elevation. Avoid heat and massage in the first 48 hours.
Other injuries a clinic handles well
| Injury | What happens in clinic |
|---|---|
| Splinters, glass, fish hooks | Removed, wound cleaned, tetanus checked |
| Ticks | Removed properly, with advice on what to watch for |
| Ring stuck on a swollen finger | Removed before it causes damage |
| Abscesses and boils | Drained, dressed, antibiotics if needed |
| Infected ingrown toenail | Treated, sometimes with a minor procedure |
| Jammed or crushed fingers and toes | Examined, X-ray if needed, nail care |
| Nail injuries, blood under a nail | Assessed and relieved |
| Scrapes and road rash | Cleaned thoroughly — this is the part that matters |
| Minor animal scratches | Cleaned, assessed for infection and rabies risk |
| Suture removal | Removed and the wound checked |
| Wound checks and dressing changes | Reviewed, re-dressed, infection assessed |
| Minor eye irritation from dust | Examined with stain if needed |
| Nosebleed that has stopped | Assessed and advised |
Bites: take these seriously
Bites are the injury people most often under-treat.
- Any bite to the hand — see someone today. Hand infections spread along tendons and can be limb-threatening.
- Cat bites — small punctures that seal over and trap bacteria. Higher infection risk than they look.
- Dog bites — crush and tear injury; often need cleaning and sometimes antibiotics.
- Human bites — a high infection risk, and often needs antibiotics.
- Wild animal or bat exposure — rabies risk assessment is urgent. Bat contact counts even without an obvious bite.
- Any bite in someone with diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system — low threshold, be seen today.
Bites are often deliberately not stitched so they can drain. That is correct treatment, not neglect.
Tetanus
You may need a booster if your last one was more than 10 years ago, or more than 5 years ago for a dirty or deep wound — including wounds from soil, manure, rust, animal bites, or punctures.
If you do not know when your last tetanus shot was, say so. A clinic will usually give one rather than guess, and it is given at the same visit.
Go to the emergency department for these
- Bleeding that will not stop with 15 minutes of firm pressure
- A bone visibly deformed, or protruding through the skin
- A limb that is cold, pale, numb or pulseless
- A deep wound to the hand, foot, joint or face
- A wound that may have damaged a tendon, nerve or artery — inability to move or feel a finger
- A burn that is large, deep, or involves the face, hands, feet, genitals or an airway
- Chemical or electrical injury
- Any eye injury, chemical splash, or change in vision
- Something still embedded in the wound
- A head injury with vomiting, confusion or drowsiness
- Any head injury in someone taking blood thinners
- A crush injury, a fall from height, or a high-speed collision
- A wound from a high-pressure tool, nail gun or power washer
- A suspected dislocation
- A puncture wound to the chest or abdomen
What to bring to a minor injury visit
- Your health card
- A written list of your medications — especially blood thinners
- Your allergies
- Roughly when your last tetanus shot was, if you know
- When and how the injury happened — this changes the treatment
- What was involved: glass, soil, rust, an animal, a tool
- Anything you have already put on it
- Your pharmacy’s name
- Your family doctor’s name
FAQ
How long do I have to get stitches?
Fewer hours than most people think — generally the same day, and sooner is better. Facial wounds have a little more latitude because closure matters cosmetically; hand wounds and dirty wounds have less.
Will it scar less with stitches?
Usually yes, for a wound that gapes, and particularly on the face. A properly closed wound heals with a narrower scar than one left open.
Can a nurse practitioner or nurse do stitches?
In many clinics, yes. Suturing is within the scope of several clinicians, not only physicians.
Does it hurt?
Local anaesthetic is used, so the injection stings briefly and the rest should not hurt. Children’s wounds are often glued or taped instead, specifically to avoid needles.
Can glue be used instead of stitches?
For clean, straight, low-tension cuts in the right locations, yes — quick and painless. Not suitable for hands, joints, or anywhere under tension.
When should I come back?
Return promptly for: spreading redness, increasing pain after day two, pus, a red streak running up the limb, fever, a wound that opens again, or numbness. Ask at the visit what “worse” looks like for your particular injury.
Should I keep it covered or let it air?
Keep most wounds covered and moist in the early days — that heals faster and scars less than letting a scab dry out. Follow the instructions you are given.
My injury is a week old and now looks angry.
Come in today. Delayed infection is common and oral antibiotics started early avoid a hospital visit later.
Minor injuries, seen today
Milton Health Centre’s walk-in clinic treats cuts, burns, sprains, bites, abscesses and foreign bodies, with X-ray requisitions and tetanus boosters available at the same visit — and because we also run a family practice, your wound check and follow-up stay in one place. Hours and services at Milton Health Centre.
For anything in the emergency list above, go to the emergency department instead.
Related reading
- What a Walk-In Clinic Can Treat the Same Day
- Symptoms That Should Never Wait for a Walk-In Appointment
- Walk-In Clinic, Urgent Care or Emergency Room? A Milton Patient’s Decision Guide
- How to Register as a New Patient at Milton Health Centre
This article provides general health information for Ontario residents and is not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for assessment of your own injury. Services available vary between clinics. If you believe you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For health advice at any hour, call Health811 at 811.