First Aid For...
Crushed Digits

Crushed digits, I hated this one. Remember crushing your finger in the car door? Ouch! This type of injury is a direct trauma to one or more fingers.

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Symptoms

• Finger pain
• Swelling
• Loss of fingernail
• Discoloration or bruising of the finger or fingernail

Causes

• Car door
• House doors
• Hammers
• Baseballs
• Desk drawers

First Aid Treatment

• Apply an ice pack to reduce swelling.
• Use an over the counter pain reliever to control pain.
• If the pain and swelling is excessive, blood has collected under the nail or if there is no sign of improvement in a few days go see your health care provider.
• DO NOT place a splint on the injured finger unless advised by your doctor. If can cause decreased mobility of the finger.

You might be surprise when your health care provider asks you to relief the pressure by burning a hole through the nail. No really, they might ask you to do it. Here's what you do.

• Open up a paper clip and heat the end of it over an open flame. Use a pair of pliers or similar object to hold the paper clip as you sterilize it.
• While it is still very hot place the tip of the paper clip against the injured nail. It doesn't hurt. Well, for most people it won't hurt but is looks like it should.
• You do not need to push very hard the heat of the paper clip will burn through the nail.
• When you remove the paper clip blood should start coming out of the small hole. If it doesn't try it again making the hole bigger.
• You can also use a sharp scalpel blade, small knife or needle. Be sure to sterilize the instrument.
• The pain will be relieved as the swelling is reduced.
• Soak the injured finger in warm water with a few drops of disinfectant for 20 minutes, 4 times a day, for 2 days.
• You can repeat this procedure as needed to relieve the pressure.
• Wash the finger both before and after the procedure and apply an antibiotic ointment as needed.
• DO NOT drain a crushed finger unless instructed by your doctor.