How to Fix a Laceration

How to Fix a Laceration in Project Zomboid

A laceration is more serious than a scratch but less serious than a deep wound or fracture. It causes moderate health loss, bleeding, and pain. Untreated lacerations bleed out — and if the source was a zombie, lacerations carry a 25% chance of Knox Virus infection, monitored over a 24-hour incubation window.

Step 1: Stop the Bleeding

1. Open the Health panel (the heart icon, hotkey H).
2. Right-click the bleeding wound entry.
3. Select a bandage:
   • Sterilized Bandage — preferred, lower infection chance from regular wound contamination.
   • Bandage — works fine.
   • Ripped Sheets — torn from clothing in an emergency. Counts as a "dirty" bandage; replace ASAP.

Step 2: Sterilize Before Bandaging (Recommended)

Apply a sterilizer to the wound before the bandage to reduce the chance of regular wound infection (this does NOT prevent Knox Virus infection from a zombie source). Verified options:

• Bottle of Disinfectant
• Bourbon
• Cotton Balls (with disinfectant)
• Alcohol Wipes

Step 3: Replace Dirty Bandages

Bandages get dirty over time. A dirty bandage stops bleeding but raises the chance of secondary infection. Open the Health panel periodically and re-bandage with a clean (ideally sterilized) one until the wound closes.

Step 4: Wait Out the 24-Hour Knox Window

If the laceration came from a zombie, you have a 25% chance of zombification at default settings. Symptoms appear progressively over 24 in-game hours: queasy, then nauseous, then full sickness. There is no cure for the Knox Virus once it takes hold.

Bonus: Level Up First Aid While You Heal

Every bandaging and stitching action grants First Aid XP. See our First Aid leveling guide for ways to grind it intentionally.

Stay alive. Host a Project Zomboid server with Supercraft and survive Knox Country with friends.