How to Remove a Foreign Object From a Wound

Our skin offers great protection from the dangers that surround us, but nails, knives, splinters and other sharp objects can easily penetrate skin. Some cause injuries that can be tended to at home, while others cause gaping wounds that require immediate medical attention. If an object remains in the wound and you are not planning to seek medical help, the object needs to come out immediately to reduce the risk of infection. If you intend to seek medical help, the best option is to leave the object in the wound to prevent further damage.

Things You'll Need

• Latex gloves
• Lighter, matches or another form of fire
• Tweezers
• Gauze
• Antiseptic ointment such as iodine
• Antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Medical tape or bandage to cover the wound

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Instructions

• 1

  Put on the latex gloves.

• 2

  Hold the tweezers with a towel or hot pad.

• 3

  Run the flame from a lighter or match along each side of the tweezers to sterilize them.

• 4

  Use a piece of gauze or a cotton ball to rub iodine on the wound.

• 5

  Using the tweezers, carefully extract the object from the wound.

• 6

  Place a piece of gauze over the wound and press firmly. If the pain increases significantly, part of the object is still in the wound; remove gauze and repeat Steps 2 through 5 to reduce the risk of infection.

• 7

  Pour hydrogen peroxide over the wound and let the bubbles fizzle down.

• 8

  Repeat hydrogen peroxide cleansing a second time.

• 9

  Dry up excess hydrogen peroxide and blood with the gauze.

• 10

  Apply antibiotic ointment to the wound.

• 11

  Cover the wound with a bandage or gauze and medical tape.