Emergency treatment of ear injury accidents

1. Foreign Bodies in the External Auditory Canal The most common foreign bodies found in the external ear canal include water, small insects, beans, metal balls, and earplugs. If you find yourself dealing with such an issue, here are some self-help techniques: If there is a large amount of water in your ear, you can try clapping both hands over your ears and then quickly tilting your head to one side to use centrifugal force to expel the water. Alternatively, you can hold onto a fixed object, tilt your head toward the affected ear, and jump lightly to shake the water out. For smaller amounts of water or droplets that remain, you may gently add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to help evaporate the moisture. If an insect or small flying bug enters your ear while working outdoors, shine a light into the outer ear to encourage it to crawl out on its own. You can also try blowing smoke into the ear to drive it out. If a non-living object falls into your ear naturally, try tilting the affected ear downward so the object can fall out. Avoid using tweezers for round, smooth, or hard objects, as this could push them further into the ear canal. If none of these methods work, seek medical attention immediately to avoid complications.

2. Ruptured Tympanic Membrane The eardrum is very thin and can rupture due to a direct impact or sudden changes in air pressure, such as from loud noises or vibrations. Symptoms often include severe ear pain, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and sometimes a small amount of blood draining from the ear. The main principle of first aid is to keep the ear dry and prevent infection. Clean the ear canal gently with an alcohol swab, then place a sterile, dry cotton ball at the entrance of the ear canal without pushing it in deeply. Do not use ear drops or wash the ear, as this could introduce bacteria into the middle ear. Avoid blowing your nose forcefully, as this might allow germs to travel through the Eustachian tube to the middle ear. You can use nasal decongestants like ephedrine to keep the nasal passages open. Take oral antibiotics if prescribed to prevent infection. If there is bleeding or fluid coming from the ear canal, be cautious of possible head injury and seek immediate medical care.

3. Ear Trauma For wounds on the auricle (outer ear), cover the area with sterile gauze or a clean cloth and seek hospital treatment promptly. In cases of severe ear trauma, especially when fractures or significant damage occur, there is often an associated brain injury. In such situations, craniocerebral injuries become the primary concern, and immediate medical attention is essential. Always protect the ear by properly bandaging any injury. If part of the ear is completely torn off, collect it carefully and bring it along with the injured person to the hospital for potential reattachment.

China Labor Insurance Network