How do I get splinters out of DS's hand?

[Rubineski]

I'm sure a friend of mine mentioned that her local nurse put some cream on her DD's foot, where she had a splinter, and covered it with a plaster - saying it would help it work its way out. Any other ideas?

I've tried prising it out. I'm also worried that there may be another one deeper in the skin. How long before it gets infected?

My DH has just had several visits to the surgery in an attempt to get a huge pyrocantha thorn out of his leg. The nurse dug around, the doctor tried to cut it out but no result and it had started looking rather red and angry. They dressed it with magnesium sulphate paste, which you can buy in Boots for under £2, which is meant to draw the splinter out. He also got a week of antibiotics! I don't know if it is suitable for children though, but I guess the pharmacist could tell you.

if it is quite near to the surface, you can make a paste from soap and water, something in the soap helps draw them out apparently. If it is deep then you could numb the area with a little ice b4 trying to extract it.

Magnesium Sulphate paste (from a chemist) may draw it out. Put a blob on a plaster and apply plaster.

ah Nopearls beat me to it

Thanks girls! Going to chemist now!

Current H&S advice is not to try but to take them to a doctor/ minor injuries centre type place (cant remember what they calll them......but who can resist My mum always used a sterelised darning needle and some tweezers but I never remember us getting any really deep ones.

Hey there Rubineski,
If the magnesium Paste doesn't work try mixing a small amount of equal parts of soap and sugar together, put over the splinter and then cover with some cling wrap and tape then put a sock on if in the foot or just wrap a small bandage around. Works wonders