How to Remove a Splinter

Video Transcript

"You know throughout every day life all of us incur minor injuries. Hi I'm Captain Joe Bruni and what I'm going to talk about is how to remove a splinter. Splinters are usually in the form of some type of foreign body made of wood. However they can be metal, or some type of plastic material also. The first step is to cleanse the area and wash it with soap and water. And then sterilize a needle a pair of nail clippers, and a pair of tweezers. Sterilization can be done with isopropyl alcohol and then letting them air dry. See if the splinter is sticking out past the surface of the skin that can be grabbed with the tweezers first. If the splinter isn't sticking out past the skin, it will have to be exposed.Take the needle and make a small hole above the splinter by pulling away the skin material. Then reach inside with the tweezers after the end of the splinter becomes exposed and remove it. If the needle isn't working you may have to cut away the skin with the pair of nail clippers a little at a time. Keep in mind that area may have to be numbed with some type of teething gel or even ice to help numb the area to reduce the pain. After removal of the splinter use some type of antiseptic to cleanse the area and then possibly bandage it if any bleeding occurs. I'm Captain Joe Bruni, splinter removal can be painful but it must be done to prevent secondary infection from occurring. Stay safe and we'll see you next time."