A SPLINTER
A SPLINTER: FIRST AID AT HOME
A splinter is a small foreign body that has penetrated the skin. Most often, a splinter is driven in when the skin comes into contact with untreated wood, but other options are also possible: small metal shavings, pieces of wire, thin fragments of glass or fiberglass, etc.
The splinter itself is not dangerous, but if it is not removed, infection of the skin may begin. In addition, improper extraction of a foreign body can lead to complications.
RULES OF FIRST AID IN CASE OF SPLINTERS
To protect yourself from unpleasant consequences (abscesses, loss of finger mobility, etc.), you should clearly follow the rules for removing splinters. The first and most important thing here is absolute sterility. If you have driven a splinter, your skin is already damaged, and therefore doubly vulnerable to various kinds of infections.
Assess the situation. The splinter is not so dangerous that it can be removed instantly, regardless of the conditions. If you are in nature, it is better to postpone extraction until the moment when you find yourself at home. On the way, do not forget to buy an antiseptic and a patch at the pharmacy.
Wash your hands thoroughly before proceeding with the procedure. After that, they can be wiped with a piece of cotton wool soaked in a disinfectant (alcohol, chlorhexidine solution or hydrogen peroxide, etc.).
Disinfect the skin in the place where the splinter got.
Be sure to process the tools you will use: tweezers, needle, blade, etc.
Do not try to squeeze out a splinter, otherwise you can achieve the opposite result: the foreign body will only penetrate deeper into the skin.
Try to get a good look at the splinter. To do this, find a well-lit place, you can also use a magnifying glass. This will help determine the angle at which the splinter entered the skin. The fact is that you need to remove the object from the skin strictly in the opposite direction, without changing the angle, otherwise you can break off the outer piece of the splinter.
Determine the depth of penetration and choose a method that will help you extract the splinter: tweezers will do for shallow large splinters, a needle will help pull out a horizontally inserted splinter, adhesive tape will do for small fragments.
After removing the object, carefully inspect the damaged area again to find out if there are any small splinter particles left in the skin. When the procedure is over, disinfect the skin area again, you can lubricate it with iodine or “green”. Be sure to apply a Band-Aid with an antibacterial pad.
If you cannot remove the splinter yourself, try to clean the skin and stick a sterile patch to protect the skin from infections, and then go to the doctor (see below).
REMOVING SPLINTERS: NEEDLE AND TWEEZERS
This method is suitable if the splinter is quite large. Gently grab the tip of the splinter with tweezers and pull it out without changing the angle. If the splinter has gone quite deep, try to carefully open the skin layer with a needle or blade (the needle is suitable for those cases when a very thin layer of skin remains above the splinter, the blade is for rougher areas, such as heels). Then follow the same recommendations: pull the splinter by the tip with tweezers and remove it. Don’t forget about disinfection!
SPLINTERS MADE OF FIBERGLASS: WE REMOVE IT WITH ADHESIVE TAPE
If there are a lot of splinters, they are small and not very deep, you can use an adhesive tape: attach it to the skin and carefully remove it in the direction in which you need to remove the splinter (see the Rules of first aid when a splinter appears).
HOW TO REMOVE A DEEP SPLINTER
To remove a deep splinter, you can apply ichthyol ointment to the damaged area and apply a bandage on top. After a while, the splinter will come out closer to the surface of the skin.
If you can not accurately determine the place where the splinter hit, you can paint the skin with a solution of “potassium permanganate”, then the foreign body will appear as a black dot.
A SPLINTER IN A CHILD: PAINLESS EXTRACTION
Splinters in children are especially unpleasant. To calm the child and relieve pain, it is possible to lubricate the affected area of the skin with any analgesic ointment before treatment (do not forget to read the instructions to find out whether the remedy can be applied to damaged skin and whether its use in the treatment of children is permissible). Then remove the splinter according to the instructions.
Please note: a splinter increases the risk of tetanus infection, so if the child does not have the appropriate vaccination, you should definitely consult a pediatrician.
REMOVING SPLINTERS IN THE HOSPITAL
If you are not sure that you can remove the splinter yourself, consult a doctor: a surgeon or a dermatologist.
At the first signs of inflammation, you need to visit the hospital! Do not think that infection from a splinter will “pass by itself”. The danger of injury can only be determined by a doctor. He will also prescribe the means with which the skin will need to be treated.
