When to visit the ER for cuts and injuries

Scrapes and bruises are a daily occurrence for children. So how do you know if your child's latest cut from the playground needs medical attention or not? Consider the following advice to determine if immediate medical attention is warranted.

If your child has a cut, try these steps first:

• Clean out the cut with tap water and apply pressure for 10-15 minutes to stop the bleeding. If bleeding does not subside, visit the ER.
• Measure the laceration. If a cut that is not on your child's face is less than 1 mm deep and less than 1 cm long, urgent care is not necessary.

If the laceration is severe, emergency care may be necessary.

• Visit your pediatrician's office or the ER if the cut is greater than 1 mm deep and 1 cm long. Lacerations such as this may require stitches or glue.
• If the cut does not stop bleeding after you have applied pressure for 10-15 minutes, seek emergency care to make sure the bleeding is not indicative of a larger issue.
• If the cut is on your child's face, emergency care may be necessary. In most cases, it is best that a layer of broken skin on the face is glued or sewn.
• If your child is not up to date on his or her immunizations, call your pediatrician to schedule a tetanus shot.

Patients can complete advance check-in to any of Wesley's four emergency rooms with a free mobile app available for Apple iPhones in iTunes and for Android Phones in the Google Play app Store. Patients can also complete advance registration at Wesley ER Check In. Users simple select which Wesley facility they would like to go to and fill out a few required fields. The selected ER will be instantly notified, enabling the ER staff to better prepare for the patient's arrival. The app and website include the facilities' average wait times so patients can better plan their visit.

ER wait times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.

ER wait times represent a four-hour rolling average updated every 30 minutes and are defined as the time of patient arrival until the time the patient is greeted by a qualified medical professional. Patients are triaged at arrival and are seen by a qualified medical professional in priority order based on their presenting complaint and reason for visit.

The ER wait time represents the time it takes to see a qualified medical professional, defined as a doctor of medicine (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), physician assistant (PA) or advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP).

National average wait time is one hour, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HCA hospitals strive to beat the national average.

Wesley's main emergency department also provides Ready Care services, an “express lane” through the emergency department in a convenient, timely setting. These services are an alternative care route to the regular emergency department where treatment is determined on the severity of the patient's condition. Ready Care is ideal for patients who need immediate care for small emergencies, such as sprains, sore throats, ear infections and rashes. The service area is managed by providers trained in emergency medicine and is fully supervised by board-certified physicians. Patients are referred to the area through the regular emergency department.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact 911 or seek medical attention immediately.