disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...

What are YOU gonna do about…
EAR INJURIES
FOREIGN OBJECT IN EAR
If something crawls in or gets stuck in the ear...
• Keep victim calm and have them sit down with head
tilted sideways.
• Use a flashlight to try to see object in ear...
if a bug - turn ear up toward sun or flashlight - most bugs
are drawn to light so it might crawl out on it’s own
if a loose item - tilt head and try to shake it out
if still in but see it - IF you see item, gently try to remove
with tweezers, but DO NOT do this if victim is squirming
or item is deep in ear - you could damage the eardrum!
• Get medical help if not successful or can’t visually
locate object (doctors have special tools for ears).
NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS (NIHL)
Millions of people are exposed to hazardous sound levels daily. Loud
impulse noise (like an explosion) or loud continuous noise at work or play
damage the delicate hair cells of the inner ear and the hearing nerve.
Sometimes damage can be temporary - like after a concert when your ears
ring for a bit then go back to normal. But repeated loud noise or a massive
impulse noise could lead to permanent damage - damage that cannot be
reversed. Be aware certain types of disasters like tornadoes, a terrorist’s
bomb, or even hurricanes can cause a form of hearing loss.
Things to watch for…
Bombs, tornadoes, power tools, loud music, jet ski, etc.
Having to shout to be heard over noise (too loud)
Ringing or buzzing in ears
What to do…
• Avoid loud situations or at least wear ear plugs or muffs.
• Have hearing tested annually (esp. if you work around
loud noises)
• Protect children’s ears. (Note: using cotton isn’t enough.)
To learn more about NIHL, visit National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders’ site at www.nidcd.nih.gov
184 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325