# Wood splinters: just leave 'em in? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940 "2004-02-07T03:11:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/1 "2004-02-07T03:11:05Z")
I heard a conversation today. One of the people talking was saying that she had picked up a splinter in a finger, but wasn’t planning to try to take it out because she had heard that “doctors are now recommending just leaving them alone.” Supposedly the source was something a friend of hers had read in a parenting magazine, or maybe from her pediatrician–don’t know which. What’s the deal? Is anyone really saying that’s the preferred method of dealing with them now–_not_ dealing with them? ---
**Author:** ![Do\_NOT\_sit\_next\_to\_Dennis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@Do\_NOT\_sit\_next\_to\_Dennis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_NOT_sit_next_to_Dennis)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/2 "2004-02-07T03:48:25Z")
Well, if your friend can stand that irritating little feeling she gets every time she picks up something, she should be ok! Wood won’t kill you. I used to be a wood framer, and I think I’ve had enough splinters jammed into my skin to build a small canoe, and feel as healthy as a horse. If she really wants to get rid of it, tell her to simply pull it out with tweezers while squirting her hand with Bactine in case the tweezers are infected (anyone getting queasy yet?). She may have to reeeeeeally dig into her hand to pull the little sucker out. It’s not pleasant, but I actually hate walking around with splinters. When I was six, when I was engaged in horseplay with another kid, and I had a lead pencil stuck in my palm, and the lead point was embedded in my palm, and it took about 12 years for it to finally disintegrate into my bloodstream. Up until I was in college, I could still see parts of the point from that pencil in my hand when I looked down on it. That was 30 years ago, and I’m . . . . . . . . . **DIE ALL YOU BASTARDS!!! THE MARTIANS ARE COMING !!! THE MARTIANS ARE HERE, INSIDE MY BRAIN!!! TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER, AND MEET YOUR DOOM, EARTHLING INFIDELS!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!** still okay. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/3 "2004-02-07T04:07:52Z")
In case you ever get a splinter, there’s a little device sold at the counter of most hardware stores called a “splinter picker”. It’s a thin piece of stainless, about 1/4 inch x 3 inches, sharpened at both ends and folded in halh so the sharp ends kinda meet. They’re sold in a small plastic tube for a couple bucks. They work great, better’n _any_ ol’ tweezers or pliers. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/4 "2004-02-07T11:44:36Z")
all the old timers I worked with as a teenager many years ago would whip out a jack knife the minute they had a splinter and try to tweeze out the splinter with a knife blade. If that didn’t work, they would dig the sucker out. I did the same (monkey see monkey do). It was a lot less painful than waiting for splinters to work their way out. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/5 "2004-02-07T13:02:16Z")
What can happen is that the splinter gets a layer of gunge around it, and this sort of works its way upwards, and when it eventually reaches the surface it oozes out taking the splinter with it - ugh!! I guess it depends upon how deep the splinter goes, and if it has any nasties on it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/6 "2004-02-07T14:27:15Z")
> [@](#): > > What can happen is that the splinter gets a layer of gunge around it, and this sort of works its way upwards, and when it eventually reaches the surface it oozes out taking the splinter with it - ugh!! That’s been my experience as well. A splinter will get so much puss around it, after say, two weeks, it comes out like a pimple. During that time I am usually digging at it with a needle, so, I might be causing an infection, which in the end helps get it out. The body sort of rejects it. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/7 "2004-02-07T20:28:03Z")
> [@](#): > > When I was six, when I was engaged in horseplay with another kid, and I had a lead pencil stuck in my palm, and the lead point was embedded in my palm, and it took about 12 years for it to finally disintegrate into my bloodstream. As a senior in high school, in my architectural drafting class, a friend inadvertently stabbed me with his needle-sharp drafting pencil. Got me right on the pad-side of my left middle finger, right at the first joint. That was more than 20 years ago, and I can still see it in there. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_NOT\_sit\_next\_to\_Dennis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@Do\_NOT\_sit\_next\_to\_Dennis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_NOT_sit_next_to_Dennis)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/8 "2004-02-07T22:12:26Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > As a senior in high school, in my architectural drafting class, a friend inadvertently stabbed me with his needle-sharp drafting pencil. Got me right on the pad-side of my left middle finger, right at the first joint. That was more than 20 years ago, and I can still see it in there. You need to pick better friends! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/9 "2004-02-07T22:51:55Z")
And I thought I was all alone in the world with my 28-year old bit of pencil lead stuck in my thumb. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/10 "2004-02-07T22:55:15Z")
I’ve got a 19 year old pencil tip in my right index finger. Should we start a club? ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/11 "2004-02-07T22:58:08Z")
I have a pencil lead in my right knee (was carrying a pencil in my pocket in 6th grade and sat down wrong at my desk) and one in the right side of my chest (stabbed by an angry kid in 9th grade). At 30, I’m still alive, but I blame all of my life’s failures on the degeneration this has obviously caused to my mental faculties. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/12 "2004-02-08T01:10:00Z")
I would recommend that if you get a splinter from pressure treated wood, you get it out as quick as you can…arsenic, according to this article, is an ingredient. [http://www.ewg.org/reports/poisonwoodrivals/pr.html](http://www.ewg.org/reports/poisonwoodrivals/pr.html) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/13 "2004-02-08T01:16:36Z")
So here ya [go](http://www.slivergripper.ca/index.htm#guarantee). Works great. ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/14 "2004-02-08T07:07:24Z")
As a rule of thumb (no pun intended) there are very few foreign bodies that our body enjoys. Our skin is the second defence in preventing Bad Things™ from entering our body (bacteria, viruses, chemicals) so anything which does get through should be treated with suspicion. What lengths do hospitals go to before they cut you open? Shaving, disinfecting, sterilising, stitching, covering. I don’t see “inserting random bits of wood” anywhere in that list. As indicated above, you might do more damage with your unsterile needle and tweezers but - WAG - I think that if you’re a reasonable home-surgeon then it’s better to remove than leave in. Hey, there’s an idea for a new TV show: “Australia’s Funniest Home Surgeries”. _Shudders_ ---
**Author:** ![LowerLip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/839c29/32.png) [@LowerLip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LowerLip)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/15 "2004-02-08T09:08:25Z")
**mangeorge** the ‘sliver gripper’ looks just the tool Thai taxi drivers use to shave with! ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/16 "2004-02-08T11:17:20Z")
Just use a pin to get it out. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/17 "2004-02-08T11:45:00Z")
here’s another member for your club, “It’s still there, 30 years later.” [http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7942sci4.html](http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7942sci4.html) And lead pencils no longer contain lead, they contain graphite. And I agree… the body should eventually reject it… it is biodegradable and probably covered with organisms that are thriving in the environment. But it would be a lot easier to dig it out. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-splinters-just-leave-em-in/227940/18 "2004-02-08T12:11:55Z")
[I don’t think so.](http://www.nfid.org/powerof10/section2/overview-tetanus.html) > [@](#): > > Tetanus is caused by the common bacterium Clostridium tetani that is widespread in our environment, and any wound presents a risk of infection. > The bacteria can enter the body through a tiny pinprick or scratch-even from splinters… > [@](#): > > Although tetanus cases in the United States have decreased over the years, it can be a very deadly disease. Even with proper treatment, it is fatal for 1 out of every 10 people infected in this country, so it is important that people get a booster shot every 10 years to stay protected. [Another splinter death](http://books.nap.edu/books/0309047412/html/34.html) [An expensive spinter](http://www.marketmed.org/anecdotes.asp?fmmfont=fontsml) [Flesh eating bacteria](http://www.drmirkin.com/archive/6218.html) Me, I dig them straight out.