The ER: Know When To Go and when it's fine to treat three of the most common injuries at home

You’re slicing the veggies when—yeoooow!- you slice open your finger, too. The gash looks bad, but is it deep enough to waste your precious Saturday waiting around in the emergency room? That depends. If it’s an ER-worthy wound, booking it to your nearest hospital can lead to faster healing, less scarring, and a reduced risk for infection. When you’re unsure if your injury rates a trip to the emergency room, this guide will help you decide.

Burns. The toaster toasted your finger. Skip the trip if you feel pain and your skin is red (a first-degree burn). Apply a cool cloth for as long as you find it soothing, and take ibuprofen.

Go to the ER if the burn doesn’t hurt - a sure sign that nerve endings have been severely damaged. This is can happen when you suffer a third-degree burn. Also seek treatment if your skin blisters (a second-degree burn), to avoid infection, or if there’s serious swelling, which can block blood supply to the area. Wrap a cool cloth around the wound and keep it elevated while you wait.

Falls. Ouch! You twisted your ankle trying to avoid a branch in your path, and down you went. Skip the trip if you can bear weight on the limb or move it. In these cases, you’re probably fine. Also stay put if the area doesn’t immediately turn black and blue. Instead, elevate your foot and apply ice for 15-20 minutes, twice a day.

Go to the ER if you feel pain when you’re not using the limb or you can’t move it at all. The doc will most likely order an x-ray and give you a protective brace or splint. If it’s a serious sprain, she may also send you home with crutches.

Cuts. Oh yes. That unfortunate vegetable incident. Skip the trip if the cut is smaller than a third of an inch or the edges meet. To treat yourself, wash the wound with soap and warm water and apply pressure until the bleeding stops. Then dab on antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage.

Go to the ER if you’re still bleeding after 10 minutes of applying firm pressure or if the slash is wide enough that you can see a muscle or bone. In that case, you’ll probably need stitches. Before you head out, wash the cut and keep applying pressure. And look on the bright side: at least you can tell your mother you met a doctor.