Question

You are called to a local elementary school where you find a hysterical child with a pencil impaled in the left cheek. Examination reveals that the pencil has penetrated the inner cheek wall. The treatment that would be MOST APPROPRIATE would be to _________.

1) Remove the pencil and control bleeding on both sides of the cheek
2) Push the pencil through the cheek and control the bleeding
3) Apply an immobilizing dressing around the pencil, and transport
4) Cut the pencil and control bleeding

Answer 1

The most appropriate treatment is to apply an immobilizing dressing around the pencil and transport the child for medical care, as removing or pushing the pencil could cause more harm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The treatment that would be MOST APPROPRIATE for a child with a pencil impaled in the left cheek and penetration of the inner cheek wall would be to apply an immobilizing dressing around the pencil, and transport the child to a medical facility. Removing the pencil or pushing it through could cause further damage and increase the risk of infection and bleeding. It's essential to secure the pencil to prevent movement, control any external bleeding with gentle pressure, and quickly transport the child to a hospital for proper care by medical professionals.