Splinters & Foreign Body Removal

Visit an Urgent Care Center to Extract Splinters and Other Foreign Objects

Injuries caused by splinters are common. The majority of splinters are minor annoyances that can be treated safely and easily at home. However, large, deep splinters and potentially unsanitary foreign objects require medical attention.

It is sometimes necessary to see a medical professional to treat dangerous or broken splinters. When splinters are not extracted properly, they might cause complications, infection, or sepsis. Natural materials are particularly dangerous – plant needles or insect stingers can contain toxins that lead to medical emergencies.

In coastal communities, beach-related injuries are very common. These injuries include the following:

  • Sand in the eyes
  • Glass shards imbedded in feet
  • Cuts from foreign bodies

When should you seek medical attention for a splinter?

While it may be tempting to extract a large or deep splinter yourself, there are some important reasons to avoid doing so. Doing it yourself can be dangerous, as it can lead to further injury or infection.

If you have a splinter, it is best to see a medical professional. Splinters and other foreign materials can contain microorganisms that cause infection. A physician can accurately assess the situation, safely remove the splinter, and sanitize the wound properly. A doctor or nurse can also administer a tetanus shot if needed.

By attempting to remove a splinter yourself, you may make the situation worse. You could cause the splinter to break into pieces, making it harder to remove. You may also push it deeper into the skin, leading to further inflammation and pain.

What are the signs of infection?

Signs of infection from a splinter can include the following:

  • Discoloration
  • Inflammation
  • Pain
  • Discharge
  • Streaks of red surrounding the wound

Other signs of infection may include fever, fatigue, and chills. If any of these symptoms are present, please seek medical care immediately.

If you have any of the above symptoms, please visit your nearest urgent care clinic. Antibiotics may be necessary to treat the infection and reduce the risk of further complications. It is also important to take good care of the wound and to keep it clean and covered until it has healed. Treating the wound quickly and carefully can help prevent infection and reduce the risk of other complications.

Please visit Emerald Coast Urgent Care today if you have any indications of an infection caused by a splinter or other wound. Our walk-in clinic happily welcomes patients 7 days a week – no appointment necessary.

For more details about Emerald Coast Urgent Care, please call 850-654-8878 for the Destin clinic, 850-236-8655 for the Panama City Beach clinic, or 850-588-1843 for the Inlet Beach clinic.

CONTACT US

Would you like to know more?
Call the location nearest you:

Destin: 850-654-8878
Panama City Beach: 850-236-8655
Inlet Beach: 850-588-1843

WALK-INS WELCOME!

Emerald Coast Urgent Care locations:

12598 Emerald Coast Pkwy.,
Destin, Fl 32550

2704 Thomas Dr.,
Panama City Beach, Fl 32407

13625 US-98, Suite 8-9
Inlet Beach, FL 32413

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