Years ago (almost 20 years now), I was working on a Navy ship in San Diego. I was helping the welder layout foundations and braces when I got a long cut on my left hand. It was fairly deep and it was bleeding a lot. I cleaned it out with betadine and bandaged it up myself. After another hour or two, one of the officers noticed my hand and asked what happened. I told him it was just a cut. He insisted that I leave the ship and get a medical evaluation. I left the base and went to a hospital to let them check it out. A nurse saw me first and saw the wound and asked how it happened. I explained in detail. She said that I am going to need a tetanus booster. I told her I didn't need one, the metal was cleaned and on a ship. She was insistent that I get one. I declined. The doctor came in, took one look and said I would need a tetanus booster. I explained again that it was not necessary. He was insistent. I asked him if he knows what causes tetanus. He couldn't remember the bacteria. I explained it is clostridium and it lives in soil. It thrives in rust of soil contact steel/iron. Since the metal used was cleaned with acetone and ground down for welding, there was zero chance of clostridium present. Therefore, I didn't need a tetanus booster. I left without one, the fact that both the nurse and doctor didn't know what caused lockjaw and when and why a tetanus shot would be required is why I haven't been to see a doctor ever since. I research my own issues and problems and treat them accordingly. If my treatment doesn't work or I need prescription meds, I will go see a doctor, but so far I have been batting a thousand. Hoping to go the rest of my life without needing to see a doctor or go to a hospital.