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Home > Family Health & Lifestyle > First Aid > Foreign Body

Foreign Body 

What should be done in the way of first-aid treatment for foreign bodies?

Eyes

Only the most superficial foreign bodies should be removed from the eyes by non physicians. If medical care is not readily available, the eye should be irrigated with lukewarm water, or a moist piece of cotton can be used to brush out the foreign body. A little bit of mineral oil instilled into the eye will relive most of the irritation. Avoid rubbing eye and avoid trying to scrape out a foreign body with any hard object.

Nose

If one can get the patient to sneeze, the foreign body will often by extruded. This can be accomplished by having him inhale some pepper through his nostrils or by tickling the opposite nostril.

Ears

Foreign bodies in the ear should not be attacked by lay people as damage may result to this delicate structure. The best fist aid is to place some olive oil, mineral oil, or castor oil into the ear and let it stay there for a few minutes. This will usually bring out the foreign body. No great harm will result foreign body remaining in the ear until medical attention is obtained.

Splinters

Only those splinters that can be grasped firmly by a protruding end and can be gently withdrawn should be attacked by laymen. Soft splinter or broken off splinters should be treated by physicians. If a piece of foreign body is allowed to remain in the skin, it will usually become infected. If medical care is not available, warm soaks for a period of a few days will often bring a splinter to a position where it can be withdrawn with a pair of tweezers.

Stab wounds (knives, shrapnel, or other weapons)

Protruding objects of this type should usually be left in place until medical care can be obtained. Removal by non-physicians may result in severe hemorrhage. The best first aid is to place a sterile dressing over the area and transport the patient to the nearest hospital.

What should be done about pieces of clothing or dirt that have gotten into an abrasion or laceration?

Thorough washing with soap and water will usually dislodge such foreign bodies. This should be done as soon as possible after the injury. The injured area should then be covered with a clean dressing, and medical attention should be obtained.