Monday, June 04, 2012

Ear emergencies

Table of Contents

First Aid

Follow the steps below, depending on the type of ear emergency.

OBJECT IN THE EAR

  1. Calm and reassure the person.
  2. If the object is sticking out and easy to remove, gently remove it by hand or with tweezers. Then, get medical help to make sure the entire object was removed.
  3. If you think a small object may be lodged within the ear, but you cannot see it, DO NOT reach inside the ear canal with tweezers. You can do more harm than good.
  4. Try using gravity to get the object out by tilting the head to the affected side. DO NOT strike the person's head. Shake it gently in the direction of the ground to try to dislodge the object.
  5. If the object doesn't come out, get medical help.

INSECT IN THE EAR

  1. DO NOT let the person put a finger in the ear, since this may make the insect sting.
  2. Turn the person's head so that the affected side is up, and wait to see if the insect flies or crawls out.
  3. If this doesn't work, try pouring mineral oil, olive oil, or baby oil into the ear. As you pour the oil, pull the ear lobe gently backward and upward for an adult, or backward and downward for a child. The insect should suffocate and may float out in the oil. AVOID using oil to remove any object other than an insect, since oil can cause other kinds of objects to swell.
  4. Even if an insect appears to come out, get medical attention. Small insect parts can irritate the sensitive skin of the ear canal.

RUPTURED EARDRUM

The person will have severe pain. Place sterile cotton gently in the outer ear canal to keep the inside of the ear clean.

  1. Get medical help.
  2. Do not put any liquid into the ear.

CUTS ON THE OUTER EAR

  1. Apply direct pressure until the bleeding stops.
  2. Cover the injury with a sterile dressing shaped to the contour of the ear, and tape it loosely in place.
  3. Apply cold compresses over the dressing to reduce pain and swelling.
  4. If part of the ear has been cut off, keep the part. Get medical help immediately.
  5. Place the part in a clean cloth and keep it on ice.
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Review Date: 08/03/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)