First Aid For a common Canadian sticky situation

Guest post by Shauna Quinn, communications intern at the Canadian Red Cross

As Canadians, we all know of at least one incident when someone stuck their tongue to a metal object in winter. It’s not uncommon, especially for children. As we age, we understand wet lips or other parts of the body can stick to metal objects and removal can be quite painful. Here are some steps to take if you find your child, or any other, in this situation.

First, make sure the area is safe and there are no other signs of danger. Next, you’ll need to pour warm water (not hot) on the object and the skin surface to which it is bonded and help the child to gently remove themselves from the metal object. It’s a good idea at this point to check for any other injuries and treat if required. If skin is torn off, treat it like an open wound. Reassuring the child will help keep them calm. If it is impossible to separate the child from the object, call 9-1-1 for assistance.

There are many fun activities to do outside in the snow.  But even these every day fun activities, like sledding or building snow forts, can be dangerous without following proper pre-cautions. Always supervise children outside in the snow. And remember to dress appropriately for the weather to reduce the risk of frostbite or hypothermia. 

Unsticking a child from a metal object in winter may not seem like an emergency to you, but for the child involved it is! So be prepared, register for one of our Red Cross First Aid training courses. For extra help with winter emergencies and to keep your skills up to date, download the official Canadian Red Cross First Aid app to your Apple or Android device.