Bites & stings
Animal and Human Bites
Clean any bite that breaks the skin thoroughly with running water, cover it, and get medical advice — bites easily become infected and may need antibiotics or a tetanus check.
When to call 999. Call 999 for serious bleeding, a deep or large wound, a bite to the face, or if the person is seriously hurt. Seek urgent care the same day for most bites that break the skin, and immediately for any bite abroad where rabies is a risk.
What to do
- If bleeding, apply pressure with a clean pad to control it.
- Once bleeding is controlled, clean the wound thoroughly under running tap water for several minutes.
- Remove any dirt or debris you can see, and gently pat the area dry.
- Cover the wound with a clean, non-stick dressing.
- Get medical advice, as bites that break the skin often need checking for infection, tetanus and, abroad, rabies.
- Take pain relief such as paracetamol if needed.
Avoid
What not to do
Do not ignore a bite that breaks the skin, even if it looks minor, and do not close it up tightly yourself, as bites are prone to infection and are often left open or reviewed. Do not delay care for any animal bite in a country where rabies occurs.
Afterwards and while you wait
Watch for signs of infection — increasing pain, redness, swelling, warmth, pus or fever — and seek help promptly if they appear, as bites (especially cat and human bites) frequently become infected. Your tetanus status may need checking, and antibiotics are often given for bites that break the skin.
Education and reference only. This is general first-aid information aligned with UK guidance, not a substitute for a hands-on first-aid course or professional emergency care. In a life-threatening emergency, call 999 straight away.
Answers
Animal and Human Bites: frequently asked questions
Do all animal bites need antibiotics?
Not always, but bites that break the skin often do, because they carry a high risk of infection — cat and human bites especially. It is best to get any skin-breaking bite assessed rather than assume it will be fine.
What if I am bitten by an animal abroad?
Wash the wound thoroughly and seek medical help urgently, as rabies is a risk in many countries and is almost always fatal once symptoms start but preventable with prompt treatment, even if you were vaccinated before.
Related
Other bites & stings first aid
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — first aid
- St John Ambulance / British Red Cross first-aid guidance
- UK Health Security Agency (where relevant)
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