Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for care after a traumatic injury or event. Trauma can cause different physical problems, such as cuts or bruises, broken bones, bleeding, brain damage, or damage to your organs. You might also have emotional trauma after a life-threatening or very stressful event.
The doctors think it is safe for you to recover at home. How long it will take for you to heal depends on how serious your injuries are, your overall health, and how you respond to treatment.
Sometimes, symptoms of serious injuries do not show up right away and instead happen days or even weeks later. It's important to watch for the problems listed below.
You might be waiting on test results. The staff will notify you if there are concerning results.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Take all your medicines as instructed, if the doctor gave you any.
●Keep any minor wounds clean and dry for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, you can gently wash minor wounds with soap and water, or take a shower. If you have stitches or staples, do not take a bath or soak them in water.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your wound or bandage.
•You can apply an antibiotic ointment to the wound 1 to 2 times each day. If you want, you can cover the wound with a bandage. You can also leave it open to air.
If you had a serious wound, stitches, or a burn, follow the doctor’s instructions for how to care for it.
If you had a fracture (broken bone) and were placed in a splint, cast, or brace, follow the doctor's instructions for how to care for it.
●Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
●Try to stay active. It is OK to rest for a day or so. Try to get up and move around some each day. Staying in bed or sitting for too long can delay healing. But do not push yourself. If you feel severe pain, stop.
●Use ice or heat to help with pain:
•Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. Ice for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury.
•Use heat only after the first 24 to 48 hours. If you heat too soon after an injury, it can make swelling worse. If your doctor tells you to use heat, put a heating pad on the injured area for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Never go to sleep with a heating pad on as this can cause burns.
●Talk with a counselor or therapist about your worries and feelings. This can help you manage the trauma.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
•Have sudden or worse trouble breathing
•Have sudden or worse chest pain
•Have bad belly pain, especially if it is worse when you get up or during activity
•Have a seizure
•Have trouble walking, talking, or seeing
•Feel lightheaded when you try to sit up or stand, like you might pass out
•Have weakness in an arm or leg, or both
•Think you might harm yourself or someone else. In the US, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
-To speak to someone, call or text 988.
-To talk to someone online, go to chat.988lifeline.org.
●Return to the ED if you:
•Have yellow, green, or bad-smelling drainage from a wound
•Vomit more than 2 to 3 times in a day
•Have blood in your urine or bowel movements
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you:
●Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Have a wound that will not heal or opens up
●Still have pain after taking pain medicines
●Have a mild headache or stiff neck that does not start to get better after 2 to 3 days
●Think you cannot be alone
●Have feelings of anxiety, stress, or depression that are not getting better
●Have new or worsening symptoms
Patient education: Taking care of cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds (The Basics)
Patient education: Stitches and staples (The Basics)
Patient education: Fractures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a splint (The Basics)
Patient education: Coping with worry and stress (The Basics)
