American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [131]
3. After 24 hours, apply a warm washcloth or a heating pad to aid healing.
WARNING!
Unusual Bruises
You should suspect that someone (especially a child or an incapacitated or older person) has been a victim of abuse if he or she has any of the following signs:
• Bruises on fleshy areas such as the face, back, abdomen, thighs, or buttocks
• Bruises in generally protected areas such as the neck (possibly from choking), chest, or genitals
• Bruises with distinctive and recognizable shapes of objects such as clothes hangers or belt buckles
• Multiple bruises in various stages of healing
Splinters
A small splinter usually can be removed easily with tweezers. A splinter in the eye should be removed only by a doctor. If a splinter breaks off in the skin, is deeply lodged, or cannot be removed, see your doctor as soon as possible. You should also see a doctor if the wound becomes infected or if red streaks radiate from the wound (which is a sign that the infection is spreading in the bloodstream).
To remove a splinter from the skin:
1. Wash your hands and the skin around the splinter with soap and water.
2. Sterilize tweezers (and any other instrument you may need, such as a needle or razor blade) with rubbing alcohol or by placing them over an open flame or in boiling water and letting them cool. If the splinter is sticking out of the skin, place the open tweezers directly on the skin on either side of the splinter (pushing on the skin slightly), and gently pull on the splinter in the direction in which it entered the skin.
3. If the splinter is embedded just under the skin, gently loosen the skin around the splinter with a sterilized needle or the tip of a sterilized razor blade. Lift the end of the splinter with the end of the needle or tip of the razor blade. Carefully remove all of the splinter with the sterilized tweezers.
4. Squeeze the wound gently to promote slight bleeding, which will force out some of the germs.
5. Wash the area with soap and water, and apply a bandage.
Foreign Object in the Eye
Never try to remove anything that is stuck in the eye or is on the pupil of the eye. If a person has something embedded in his or her eye, do not let the person rub it. Gently cover both eyes with a sterile compress and lightly bandage it in place. Covering both eyes helps stop eye movement, which can help minimize eye damage and pain. Call 911 or your local emergency number, or get the person to a hospital emergency department immediately.
If an object such as a piece of dirt or an eyelash is floating on the white or inside corner of the eye or on the inside of the eyelid, you can try to remove it. Symptoms of something in the eye include pain, a burning sensation, tearing, redness, or sensitivity to light.
To remove a foreign object that is not embedded in the eye:
1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. If the person is wearing contact lenses, remove (or have the person remove) the lenses if they can be removed easily.
3. Gently pull the upper eyelid out and down over the lower eyelid, and hold the upper lid down for a few seconds. This should cause tears to flow, which may wash out the particle. The upper lid sliding over the lower lid also may dislodge the particle.
Pull the upper eyelid over the lower eyelid
4. If the person still can feel the particle, gently cover the eye with a clean cloth and get medical help immediately.
Cover the eye with a clean cloth
Chemicals in the Eye
Chemicals that come in contact with the eye must be washed out right away to avoid permanent injury or blindness. Damage to the eye can occur immediately. Do not let the person rub the eye.
To treat a chemical burn to the eye:
1. Call or have someone call 911 or your local emergency number, or send someone for help.
2. If the person is wearing contact lenses, remove (or have the person remove) the lenses if they can be removed easily.
3. Hold the person’s head