Foreign Objects

A foreign object is any object, large or small, that finds its way into the body, either entering through wounds or entering the body through orifices such as the ear, nose and eye. You should always wear disposable gloves when treating a casualty. Seek medical attention unless the incident is extremely minor. Calm and reassure the casualty at all times.

Ear	Nose	Eye
May cause infection and/ or perforation of the ear drum	May cause infection and difficulty in breathing. Could cause nose bleeds due to vessel damage	May cause damage to the eye either by puncture wound or surface scratch
Treatment	Treatment	Treatment
Make no attempt to remove the object	Where possible ask the casualty to breathe through their mouth	The eye will be itchy but advise the casualty not to rub
Cover the ear with a dry sterile dressing		Ask the casualty to open the eye wide, pull the top lid up and bottom lid down
Advise the casualty to seek qualified medical assistance		Look into the eye and see if you can see the object
		Ask the casualty to look up. Down, left and right as eye movement will produce tears which may flush out the object
		Cover the eye with a dry sterile dressing

Small splinters

Splinters are foreign objects that embed themselves into the skin, either fully or partially. Splinters injuries are often surprisingly painful and are common occurrence that can be caused by many things such as:

Shards of glass
Splinter of wood
Splinter of plastic
Silver of metal

Recognition

Possible pain at the site of the injury
Visibility of the splinter
Possible swelling at the site of the injury
There may be an associated bleed

Treatment (Partially embedded)

Put on your disposable gloves
Clean the surrounding area of the splinter
Ensure that your tweezers are sterile
Draw the splinter out in the direction of the entry route
Monitor for signs of infection

Treatment (Fully Embedded)

Put on your disposable gloves
Clean the area surrounding the splinter
With fully embedded splinters incorporate a drawing technique which is:

Cover the splinter with a plaster and leave over night
Remove the plaster and see if the splinter has been drawn out either fully or partially

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