If you have a serious wound with bleeding, a broken bone, a serious burn, a significant head injury or an injury from a fall, call an ambulance on triple zero (000).

Wounds can be caused by an injury, or by an infection, or by chronic illnesses.

Some people are more prone to wounds than others. Very active people get injured more often than others, and people with diabetes tend to get infections from wounds more easily than others.

You can look after most wounds yourself, by keeping them clean and preventing infection. Most wounds will heal themselves.

But you should see a doctor if:

• the wound is deep and doesn’t stop bleeding when you apply pressure
• there is a lot of dirt or gravel in the wound
• the wound is near your eye
• you notice changes around the wound, such as spreading redness, increased pain, tenderness or swelling
• you develop a temperature
• the wound is from a bite, whether by an animal or another human
• the wound is contaminated with soil or saliva
• you have diabetes
• you’re not sure whether you’re up to date with your tetanus shots