First aid for insect inside the ear

Authors: Simulation and Certification Center

Editor: Rednenko V.V.

Clinical situation:  

A neighbor has asked you for help. Her 10-year-old son complains for unpleasant sensations inside the ear where an insect has entered.
Provide first aid to the child.

Equipment for the practical skill:

• simulator;
• universal first aid kit;
• baby oil;
• towel.

The procedure for performing a practical skill

• Introduce yourself.
• Identify patient.
• Obtain informed consent to the procedure:
  • give all the information to the person about what the procedure involves, including the benefits and risks, whether there are reasonable alternative, and what will happen without this procedure;
  • explain what you are going to do;
  • ask the patient to consent to procedure.
• Reassure the casualty.
• Position the person:
  • ask him to sit down;
  • support his head, with the affected ear uppermost;
  • stand beside, or just behind, the casualty.
• Examine the person’s affected ear:
  • pull the ear lobe backward and downward (for a child under 3 years old) or back and up (for a child over 3 years old and adults);

• • examine the visible part of the external auditory canal.
• Identify a type of the problem: the insect not fly or crawl out.
• Pour some drops of baby oil into the ear pulling the ear lobe backward and downward. The insect should suffocate and may float out in the oil.

• If this is unsuccessful, seek medical help.