Wounds and Injuries Summary An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Injuries can happen at work or play, indoors or outdoors, driving a car, or walking across the street. Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. They often happen because of an accident, but surgery, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren’t serious, but it is important to clean them. Serious and infected wounds may require first aid followed by a visit to your doctor. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, you cannot close it yourself, you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or it does not heal. Other common types of injuries include Bruises Burns Dislocations Fractures Sprains and strains Find an Expert American Red Cross American Red Cross Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency Find a Nurse in Your Area Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Statistics and Research Armpits, Belly Buttons and Chronic Wounds: The ABCs of Our Body Bacteria National Institute of General Medical Sciences Common Laundry Detergent Ingredient May Help Preserve Muscle Tissue After Severe Injury National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases FastStats: Accidents or Unintentional Injuries National Center for Health Statistics Injury: The Leading Cause of Death among Persons 1-44 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Life After Traumatic Injury: How the Body Responds National Institute of General Medical Sciences State Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Bureau of Labor Statistics Ten Leading Causes of Death and Injury Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diagnosis and Tests Bacterial Wound Culture American Association for Clinical Chemistry Wound Drainage Culture (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Children Bites and Scratches (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Checking Out Cuts, Scratches, and Abrasions Nemours Foundation Dealing with Cuts (For Parents) Nemours Foundation How Stitches Help Kids Heal Nemours Foundation What’s a Scab? Nemours Foundation Array Bleeding Crush injury Cuts and puncture wounds Diagnostic peritoneal lavage – slideshow Electrical injury Gunshot wounds — aftercare How wounds heal Human bites — self-care Laceration – sutures or staples – at home Lacerations – liquid bandage Surgical wound care Surgical wound infection – treatment Wet to dry dressing changes Wound care centers Treatments and Therapies Caring for Your Incision After Surgery American Academy of Family Physicians Cuts and Scrapes: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Puncture Wounds: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Severe Bleeding: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Stitches (Surgical Sutures) Logical Images Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Lacerations National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Wounds and Injuries National Institutes of Health Encyclopedia Closed suction drain with bulb Genital injury Hemovac drain Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Skin flaps and grafts — self-care Sterile technique Sternal exploration or closure Surgical wound care — closed Specifics Diabetic Wound Care American Podiatric Medical Association Electrical Shock: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Frequently Asked Questions about Surgical Site Infections Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Internal Bleeding Merck & Co., Inc. Lightning American College of Emergency Physicians Puncture Wounds American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Trauma National Institute of General Medical Sciences Related Issues Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Prevent Injury After a Disaster Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Scars and Wounds American Cancer Society Tetanus (Lockjaw) National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Travelers’ Health: Injuries and Safety Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Start Here First Aid: Cuts, Scrapes and Stitches American Academy of Family Physicians Prevention and Risk Factors Injury Prevention American College of Emergency Physicians Health Check Tools Mouth Laceration DSHI Systems Journal Articles Accidents Accidents at home Wounds and Injuries Reference Desk Skin Dictionary American Academy of Dermatology Teenagers Wound Healing and Care Nemours Foundation Latest News Knee Replacement Patients May Be Able to Hit the Shower Sooner HealthDay Scientists Grow and Transplant Functioning Skin Onto Mice HealthDay
