Quick answer
What to do first
Get out of immediate danger, inspect the Health panel and control bleeding first. Deep wounds with lodged glass or bullets require different treatment from a clean cut: remove the object with suitable supplies before closing the wound, then use stitches when appropriate. A bandage can control bleeding while you obtain supplies; it does not remove an embedded object or cure Knox infection.
Check your game conditions
- Current Stable
- 42.20.4 Stable
- Play mode
- Singleplayer / Multiplayer
- Vanilla / Mods
- Vanilla baseline; mods may replace rules
- Sandbox / server settings
- Injury severity, healing traits and health settings affect recovery; this is not a fixed healing timer.
Which injury needs attention?
Active bleeding
- Immediate concern
- Health loss while you keep moving
- Check
- Which body part is bleeding and available bandages
- Next action
- Cover it promptly after reaching safety.
Glass lodged in a wound
- Immediate concern
- The object remains inside
- Check
- Embedded-object indication and suitable removal supplies
- Next action
- Remove the glass, then reassess closure and bandaging.
A deep wound
- Immediate concern
- A more serious wound than a scratch
- Check
- Whether an object remains and whether you have suture supplies
- Next action
- Use the appropriate stitch treatment when possible; keep bleeding controlled meanwhile.
A dirty bandage
- Immediate concern
- The dressing needs attention
- Check
- Condition of the wound under the dressing
- Next action
- Replace it in a safe place; avoid leaving active bleeding untreated.
A zombie bite
- Immediate concern
- Wound damage plus possible Knox infection
- Check
- World transmission rules
- Next action
- Treat the wound without assuming it changes the infection outcome.
Let the Health panel identify the task
Select the affected body part and read the wound label instead of treating every health drop as the same condition. A lodged object, ongoing bleeding and general sickness can require separate responses.
Bring clean dressings and tweezers or forceps for an embedded object. The documented closure options are a suture needle, or a regular needle with thread. Use the Health panel's treatment on the affected part after removing the object. If supplies are missing, keep bleeding controlled while arranging them; do not repeatedly uncover the wound on a dangerous trip.
Avoid reopening the problem
Walking through broken glass and climbing damaged openings can create further injuries. Plan a safe exit and protect your feet rather than spending supplies on repeated preventable wounds.
Monitor the wound state during recovery. A healing wound is not proof that a separate sickness has ended, and symptoms of Knox infection belong to the infection guide. In co-op, ask for supplies before setting off on another long looting trip.
Version notes & limits
The Health reference includes earlier B42 coverage. This guide uses injury and treatment distinctions, not a universal recovery duration; healing traits, wound severity and server/mod rules can change outcomes.
In-game wound care only, not real first aid. No fixed healing-time promise or claim that treating a bite prevents zombification.
Last verified means the linked documentation was reviewed, not that this guide was tested in-game. PZwiki is maintained by community contributors.
Version & sources
Sources & what may change
- Applies to
- 42.20.4 Stable; Singleplayer / Multiplayer; Vanilla baseline; mods may replace rules
- Last verified
- 2026-09-04
- When to check again
- A relevant Stable patch, changed world setting, mod update or correction to the cited instructions.