Our feet carry us around day-to-day and are therefore exposed to small and large objects alike. Stepping on something sharp like glass, can pose a serious risk to your health and wellbeing. Depending on the size of the glass shard and how deeply it has embedded itself into the skin and underlying tissues, the injury could be a minor or major issue.
Our skin is the largest organ in our body and acts as a protective barrier to the outside world. If a break in the skin occurs, we are susceptible to complications such as infection.
What should you do if you get glass in your foot?
Try these steps at home:
- Clean the area with soap and water to prevent infection
- Soaking your foot in very warm and salty water could help to draw out the glass lodged in your foot
- Work in a room with bright light to see the area well
- If you can see the piece of glass try to gently remove it in one piece from the skin using tweezers
- Once the glass is removed wash the area again with soap and water
- Apply an antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage to keep it clean and protected
How do you know if an infection has developed?
- Redness
- Swelling
- Increase in pain
- A larger area now seems to be affected
- Presence of pus or liquid draining from the opening
- Foul odour coming from the site
Caution: you should seek medical attention right away if the bleeding won’t stop for several minutes after stepping on something sharp like a piece of glass.
Once a foreign body is completely removed, you should feel significant relief. If this is not the case, or you begin having any of the above signs of infection, you will need to immediately seek the advice of your doctor, nurse practitioner or a BioPed medical footcare clinician. Leaving a foreign body, such as a piece of glass in the skin can lead to significant pain and subsequent infection. An x-ray can usually detect glass in your foot and may be needed to properly diagnose and treat the issue at hand. Additionally, you may need a tetanus shot if a piece of glass has punctured your skin and your vaccinations are not up to date. Check with your primary care professional to know if this is necessary.
Always make sure you check the inside of your shoes to make sure they are in fact empty and free of any objects and remember, your best defence from glass and other foreign bodies is wearing protection on your feet! Going barefoot indoors or outdoors may feel nice, but going without footwear can put you at risk for injury. BioPed Footcare has a vast array of footwear you can wear indoors and outdoors. Give your local BioPed a call today to learn about your footwear options!
