Removing splinters from uncooperative child

[FortunataTagnips]

Help! DD(10), who is autistic and has a learning disability, has two ruddy great splinters in her foot from some decking. We’ve tried all the obvious coaxing and pleading but she won’t let us anywhere near them.
They’re very close to the surface and it would probably only be a minute’s work to tweak them out, if only she’d let me.
Does anyone know of a non-invasive way of dealing with splinters? I’m so worried about infection.

@coxesorangepippin Do you need to have a bit of splinter sticking out to grab onto? And isn’t there a danger of just nipping off the end?

I wouldn't wet the wood splinter OP, it'll make it much harder to pull out.

My GP used to tell me to leave the splinters to work their own way out, as long as they weren't too uncomfortable or looking like they were getting infected.

Is there any chance she might let you have a go later or tomorrow, when things have calmed down?

These are longer than any splinters I've ever seen! I normally use a very fine needle to rake about and expose enough to grab onto with tweezers. With these ones you'd have to do the same possibly multiple times if it doesnt come out whole.

@TheClawDecides She actually did it yesterday - I was hoping today might be easier, but no.

When dd used to refuse to let me near her splinters, I used to take her to a chiropodist who was able to distract her and remove them (with better tools) before she'd even noticed she'd started work.

@thinkfast I’d love to be able to do that, but we have a whole massive problem of being unable to get her to medical appointments - she either point-blank refuses to go, or gets very distressed and disregulated once she’s there, making the whole thing a bit pointless.
I wish chloroform were legal 😁.

This is going to sound batshit, but if you put some soap on the splinters, then some sugar and stick a plaster on top… they’ll be out by the morning. Some sort of witchcraft I think… She might enjoy the magic of it! I was sceptical but it removed a massive one (and many of its small friends) from the palm of my hand after a mopping incident 😱

You can give her some calpol/pain medicine a half hour before trying and then numb the foot area where the splinter is with ice or numbing spray before going in with the tweezers.

@JellyBabyToManual That does sound batshit, but I’m desperate and it can’t hurt!

You need this potassium sulphate paste, cover with a plaster overnight it's much better than trying to dig out splinter as that can cause infection. I had old decking and always did this if the children got splinters.

https://www.google.com/search?q=potasim+sulphate+paste+for+splinters&client=safari&scaesv=19b551ade1306bfb&scaaupv=1&hl=en-gb&sxsrf=ADLYWIJJbjY1UA2a7AeFjXIrHm5InuUAHw%3A1724176030569&ei=ntbEZvK3Ipq4i-gP0baEsA8&oq=potasim+sulphate+paste+for+splinters&gslp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIiRwb3Rhc2ltIHN1bHBoYXRlIHBhc3RlIGZvciBzcGxpbnRlcnMyBxAhGKABGAoyBxAhGKABGAoyBxAhGKABGApIltUBUJEMWPDFAXAGeAGQAQCYAbMBoAHbH6oBBDM1Ljm4AQPIAQD4AQGYAjGgArAgwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICBxAjGLACGCfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICCBAAGBYYChgewgIIEAAYFhgeGAACAgcQABiABBgNwgIGEAAYDRgewgIHECMYsQIYJ8ICDhAAGIAEGJECGLEDGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAgcQABiABBgKwgINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCsICERAAGIAEGJECGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIKEAAYgAQYsQMYCsICChAAGIAEGLEDGA3CAgQQIRgVmAMA4gMFEgExIECIBgGQBgiSBwUzMy4xNqAHvagC&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

The ice approach really helped my son! I remembered that icing the area was a lifesaver for doing my IVF injections, so we held an ice cube on it for a minute or so and then used a needle - he went from not letting me anywhere near to telling me he couldn't feel it at all

There is a hack on Instagram for removing splinters using a Calpol syringe... sucks them out. Not tried it but might be worth a go

www.instagram.com/reel/C-A4Zo8u5jy/?igsh=MXdlcmJxOTNsc2h1cQ==

Would she tolerate soaking her foot in warm water? That can really help soften them and it is much easier and quicker to get them out. Just a.suggestion.

It's stronger than emla- most tattoo parlours would have some, or a pharmacy for emla

either tape the inside of banana peel on or mix bicarb of soda n water to a pste -slap that on cover with plaster.both draw to surface real quick

Give her a bowl of chocolate buttons to eat, whilst you swiftly remove the splinter.

I used to put sudocrem on and a plaster over the top when DS did this. The sudocrem seemed to draw them out overnight. Used to work for grit on grazes too. It'd all be stuck to the plaster in the morning. Not sure how well it'll work on ones that big though.

I second the calpol syringe, it took a couple of attempts but worked for us

I'd go with magnesium sulphate paste and a BIG plaster. Or similar Epsom salt foot bath

I kind of get the soap and sugar - the soap will lubricate and sugar can be used to prevent infection (similar to honey) and will attract moisture.

It's a long way from inflammation to sepsis. Inflammation is a normal healing process - if redness increases, as well as heat, pain and pus then it's time to go to the GP to treat an infection.

Shamelessly following for future tips! I hope you get them out OP, they look painful.

Ignore the PP suggesting you pin down your 10 year old. I can remember taking my just turned 2 year old to hospital when he was very poorly with pneumonia and it took 3 nurses, me and his dad to pin him down long enough to take blood from his foot. He was a scrappy and strong little sod. There is no way I’d be able to physically do it at 10 even if I was willing to cause him lots of distress in an attempt.

Would the calpol syringe work on this angle? If the splinter has gone directly in I could understand it working but these have gone in lengthways and there looks like a large 'opening' so it would be hard to get suction.

Yeah, I don’t think the Calpol syringe would work at that angle.

We’ve put Sudocrem and plasters on it for the time being but will see about getting some mag sulph, numbing cream or spray and some blister plasters tomorrow.

I was going to suggest syringe too but they are pretty big. Might be worth a try though? Could you pretend you're having a foot pampering/spa session, find a way together to do a bit of a foot soak and scrub and try and get them that way?

Might have been suggested above but maybe a numbing cream first?