Frozen or Stuck Tongue or Other Body Part

If you touch a frozen metal surface with a wet body part such as your tongue, lip, or wet hand, it could stick.

To free a tongue or other body part that's frozen or stuck:

• Don't pull or tug. This can cause an injury.
• Have someone pour warm water on the metal and on the part of the body that's stuck.
• Try breathing or blowing warm breaths on the area.

If none of these things work, you may have to call 911 for help to avoid serious injury.

After your body part is unstuck, you may need medical treatment.

Controlling bleeding

The area may bleed after being unstuck from the frozen metal.

If emergency care is not needed, the following steps will protect the wound and protect you from another person's blood.

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water, if available.
2. Put on medical gloves before applying pressure to the wound. If gloves are not available, to apply pressure you can:
   • Use many layers of fabric, plastic bags, or whatever you have between your hands and the wound.
   • Have the person hold their own hand over the wound, if possible, and apply pressure to the injured area.
   • Use your bare hands to apply pressure only as a last resort.
3. If the affected area is the tongue, mouth, or lips, have the person sit up and tilt their head forward with the chin down. This will help any blood drain out of the mouth, not down the back of the throat. Swallowing blood can cause vomiting.
4. If the affected area is on the skin, have the injured person lie down with the area elevated.
5. Remove or cut clothing from around the wound.
6. Remove any jewelry from the general area of the wound so if the area swells, the jewelry will not affect blood flow.
7. Do not attempt to clean out the wound at this point.
8. Press firmly on the area with gauze or a clean cloth.
   • If there is a flap of tongue or skin, return it to its normal position. If necessary, hold the flap in place with gauze or a clean cloth.
   • If you don't have gauze or a clean cloth, use the cleanest material available.
   • If there is an object in the wound, apply pressure around the object, not directly over it.
9. Apply steady, direct pressure for 10 to 15 minutes. This can seem like a long time.
   • Resist the urge to peek after a few minutes to see if bleeding has stopped.
   • If blood soaks through the cloth, apply another one without lifting the first.
10. If needed, continue direct pressure and get help.
    • If moderate to severe bleeding has not slowed or stopped, continue direct pressure while getting help.
    • Mild bleeding usually stops on its own or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure. It may ooze or trickle for a little longer.
    • Do all you can to keep the wound clean and avoid further injury to the area.
11. Watch the person so they do not swallow any gauze or cloth that is in the mouth.
12. Watch for signs of shock.

Caring for a torn piece of tongue

If a piece of tongue rips or tears off when it's removed from the frozen metal, here are steps to follow:

1. Wrap the piece of tongue in a clean cloth or sterile gauze, if available.
2. Put the wrapped piece of tongue in a bag of ice to keep it cool. Do not put the piece directly on the ice. Do not cover it in ice water.
3. Go to the emergency room right away. Be sure to take the bag with you.

A small tear or rip that has stopped bleeding probably doesn't need emergency care.