Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

7 Bleeding, Wound Care and Trauma

Slivers or splinters Splinters are small and thin objects may puncture and remain under the skin. Common to the hands and feet, splinters may be any material sharp and rigid enough to break the skin. Plant spines or thorns, wood, glass and metal may all puncture and become embedded. under the skin.

Removing a sliver • Wash your hands and clean the area of the splinter with soap and water. • With clean tweezers, grip the splinter as close to the skin as possible. • Pull the object out in line with the angle of entry. • Use antibiotic ointment and an adhesive bandage to promote healing and prevent infection. • Get medical help if a piece of splinter remains under the skin, the tissue surrounding the splinter was damaged in removal, or an infection develops.

A sliver left in the skin can become infected and the first aider should remove a sliver if it lies close to the surface of the skin and is not too large.

Removing a sliver with tweezers

Do not try to remove a sliver that is close to the structure of the eye, deeply embedded in the skin, embedded in or over a joint or an object that contains jagged edges or barbs such as a fish hook or metal splinters. Treat for an embedded object and get medical help.

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