FIRSTAID FOR FOREIGN BODY

FOREIGN BODY

                Foreign body may be passed accidentally or deliberately (by children) in different orifices of the body.Foriegn bodies can enter the body after penetrating or perforating injuries too.

FOREIGN BODY IN THE THROAT

                It may be a coin, marble, seeds, fish_ bone etc.The patient is uncomfortable and complains of pain in the throat. He has difficulty in breathing, talking, and swallowing. The following measures should be taken.

• ·         Reassure the patient.

• ·         Make him sit down in a comfortable position.

• ·         If the patient has swallowed a sharp object e.g. Open safety pin, nail false teeth etc. Get the doctor immediately. If delay is inevitable, give a cotton wool sandwich i.e. A layer of cotton wool between breads which coats the sharp objects and makes it harmless.

• ·         Do not give purgatives.

• ·         Examine the stool next day for the foreign body.
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FOREIGN BODY IN THE NOSE

                Usually peas, beans, pieces of pencils are put into the nose by children. The patient is uncomfortable and complains of pain inside the nostrils and inability to breath. There may be bleeding if a sharp object has been pushed in to the nose. The following steps should be taken.

• ·         Make the patient sit up.

• ·         Ask the patient to breath through the mouth, as the foreign body may get lodged in the respiratory tract if the patient breaths through the nose.

• ·         Make the patient sneeze using snuff or by passing the end of apiece of thread in the opposite nostril. The foreign body may expelled by sneezing.

• ·         Do not attempt to remove it with a pin or hook.

• ·         Seek medical aid.

FOREIGN BODY IN THE EAR

Children usually put foreign bodies in the ear during play. These may be Pease, beans,breads,pieces of slate pencil etc . An insect may enter the ear. The measures adopted are:

• ·         Put warm oil in the ear to float out the insect.

• ·         Do not attempt to remove any other form of foreign body as the tympanic membrane may be damaged during such attempts. Take the patient to a doctor.

FOREIGN BODY IN THE EYE

                Any object that lodges itself in the eye; Small objects will be washed out by tears / blinking

Others need medical attention.

• ·         Wash hands before helping the victim
• ·         Seat the person in a lighted area
• ·         Gently examine the eye
• ·         Pull lower eyelid downward
• ·         Ask the person to look upward
• ·         Then hold upper eyelid while person looks down
• ·         If object is floating try flushing it out
• ·         Otherwise, touch the object with wet cotton bud
• ·         Object should cling to the cotton bud
• ·         If object is removed, flush eyes with saline/warm water
• ·         If object cannot be removed, see a doctor
• ·         If object is embedded, do not touch
• ·         Cover the eyes with paper cups and tape it
• ·         Consult doctor immediately

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