Content

• Steps
• Advice

If you've ever seen the movie "The Christmas Story" or the movie "Super Stupid Meet," you are probably familiar with the ironic situation where someone's tongue is stuck to the frozen flagpole in winter. Unfortunately, this isn't just the humor that happens in movies; It happens in real life with real people. If you or someone else is trying to remove your tongue from the frozen metal surface, there are a few easy and simple things you can do to help yourself or the person get out of the situation.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Self-liberation

1. 

   Keep calm. The most important thing you can do is stay calm. It may be hard to calm down if you are alone, but try to take time to take a few deep breaths and relax.
   • Try not to panic when you find yourself unable to leave the frozen surface. If you pull your tongue out hard, it will literally rip off that frozen surface, causing a lot of damage (and bleeding). You should only use this as a last resort.
   • If you see someone walking around, try to get them to come closer by waving or yelling (as much as possible). Having someone to help you can reduce your stress.

2. 

   
   
   Cup your hands around your mouth to warm the frozen surface. If you are alone, you should try this method first. The reason your tongue gets sticky is because the metal surface freezes and it draws heat away from the tongue. To remove your tongue, you must somehow warm up the metal surface.
   • One way to warm the frozen surface is to use breath. Curl your hands around your mouth (but be careful not to touch your lips or hands with the sheet metal, as hands and lips will absorb moisture and stick too) and breathe heat directly onto the sticky tongue.
   • You can also use a towel or a jacket to combat cold winds and help warm your breath.
   • Gently pull your tongue out to see if it can loosen or even come off.

3. 

   
   
   Pour warm liquid onto the frozen surface. If you happen to have a cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or some other liquid, use it to warm the metal surface. Pour the liquid onto the metal surface where the tongue is stuck, and try to gently pull the tongue out.
   • Warm water is ideal for this, but you can use any other liquid if needed.
   • Yes, including urine. While this is not recommended, if you are alone and can not count on, this may be the last resort. Consider using this measure only in real emergencies.

4. 

   
   
   Call ambulance. Calling an ambulance for help is the best option. Of course you can only do this when you have your phone with you and you can use it.
   • You may not be able to speak to the operator when you call the emergency room. Stay calm, work slowly to explain what happened and where you are. If necessary, they can trace the call and find you.

5. 

   Quickly pull out your tongue. Consider this approach as one the last resort If everything else fails, it should never be allowed. This option is sure to cause some injury and be extremely painful. Gather up your courage and yank your tongue away from the frozen surface.
   • Warming around metal surfaces by breathing and using a towel or jacket to resist the wind is often enough to remove body parts from frozen material, even at -40 ° C or colder.
   • Once removed, you need to seek medical help as soon as possible to take care of the injured tongue.
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Method 2 of 3: Help others

1. 

   Encourage the person to stay calm and not pull out his tongue. Wet tongue and at body temperature get stuck on frozen metal surfaces because the metal sucks all the heat out of the tongue - literally. When the heat is sucked out of the tongue, saliva coagulates and sticks to the metal surface like iron glue. In addition, the taste buds on the tongue are also firmly attached to the metal surface.
   • Since the adhesive is too great, gentle pulling on the tongue won't work.
   • Forcefully pulling out the tongue will only result in a portion of the tongue sticking to the metal and the victim will bleed profusely.
   • If you meet someone who's trying to get his tongue stuck on a frozen metal surface, tell them to stay calm and not pull out the tongue, as it will only hurt.

2. 

   Make sure the person is not hurt. Unless you witness the person sticking to the tongue and metal surfaces, you probably don't know what happened. Check to see if they are okay and if there is any other injury.
   • If they are injured elsewhere, and the injury is not mild (eg, swelling or bruising), you should call for help immediately.

3. 

   Have the person take a deep breath. If the sheet can be warmed up, the tongue can come off automatically. One way to try this is to have the person breathe as much of the metal surface as possible, while cupping their hands around the mouth to concentrate the heat.
   • You can also try to cover the metal surface to warm it up and help the hot air blow into the metal surface.
   • Be careful not to let the person stick both lips and hands to the metal surface, as this will make the situation worse.

4. 

   Find some warm water. If you live nearby or can get warm water from the tap, get a glass or a bottle of warm (not hot) water. Pour warm water over the victim's tongue, where it was stuck. You can now tell the person to slowly pull the tongue away from the metal surface.
   • If you can't get warm water, and the heat doesn't work, you may need to call an ambulance for help.
   • That liquid doesn't have to be water. If you or someone passing by has a warm cup of coffee or tea, etc., those will work too. Maybe it's just a little smudge over.

5. 

   Call ambulance. If neither the heat nor the warm water is working, unfortunately, you'll have to call. If you live in an area that gets frost every year, the ambulances are probably used to dealing with tongues sticking to frozen metal surfaces. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Treat tongue damage

1. 

   
   
   Hand washing. You need to use your hands to stop the bleeding, so it's best to wash your hands first if possible. Of course, this will be more difficult when you are trying to treat the wound.
   • Another way is to use medical gloves if by chance you have or can be found nearby.
   • Avoid touching your tongue with your bare hands to stop the bleeding, if possible.

2. 

   
   
   Sit up straight and head down in front. You do not want to swallow blood, as this will make you nauseous and vomiting. Sit up straight with your head tilted forward so that the blood will drain out of your mouth.
   • If there is anything in your mouth when injured, spit it out (eg gum).
   • If you have a piercing in or around your mouth and can be easily removed, remove it.

3. 

   
   
   Stop bleeding. Use the cleanest, or cleanest cloth you can, press against your tongue. Only use bare hands if you don't have anything serviceable, especially if you can't afford to wash your hands first.
   • Since it is winter and outdoors, a scarf or hat may also help. But try to avoid gloves as they are most likely to get dirty.
   • Any cut or tear on the tongue will cause a lot of bleeding because the tongue (and the rest of the mouth) has many blood vessels. However, this can also be beneficial as the high blood vessel count also speeds up the healing process.

4. 

   Press evenly on your tongue for about 15 minutes. Hold whatever material you are pressing on the wound for at least 15 minutes. Watch the clock to make sure that you press evenly against the wound for 15 minutes. Do not try to lift the pressed material to check if the wound is still bleeding.
   • If blood is soaked with the material being used, press the other material upwards without lifting the bottom material (or reducing the pressure).
   • Usually the bleeding should be less than 15 minutes, but the wound may still bleed slightly for about 45 minutes.
   • If the wound is still bleeding profusely after 15 minutes, call for help or go to the emergency room.
   • Avoid training for days after the accident. Exercise or exertion raises your blood pressure and can cause the wound to bleed again.

5. 

   Relieve pain and swelling with ice. You probably don't want to put ice in your mouth in this case, but it does help. You can also use a cold compress (for example, a clean washcloth soaked in cold water) instead of ice.
   • You can use ice in two ways. The first is simply to suck on an ice cube or rubble. The second way is to wrap the ice in a thin (clean) cloth and apply it to the wound in your tongue.
   • Use ice therapy or cold compress for 1 to 3 minutes at a time, 6 to 10 times a day, at least on the first day.
   • Ice, or cold, will not only reduce swelling and prevent further bleeding, but will also help relieve pain.
   • You can also use popsicles or something similar to ice if you like.

6. 

   Rinse your mouth often with salt water. Make a brine solution by mixing one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Use the saline solution to rinse your mouth by rinsing it back and forth in your mouth, then spit it out. Do not swallow salt water.
   • Only start gargling with salt water the day after the injury.
   • Use salt water at least after each meal, but only use at most 4-6 times a day.

7. 

   Protect yourself from the cold. During the healing of the tongue (or lips), you may experience cold burns or colds (dermatitis or swelling) on ​​those parts. Protect yourself from the cold with a scarf, glove, or hood to cover your face while you are healing.

8. 

   Be careful with food. Your tongue and mouth will not only hurt, but can also be very sensitive. Try to eat only soft foods at first. Avoid foods that are salty, spicy, or have a high acidic concentration, as this can cause pain when eating.
   • Foods to consider are: milkshakes, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, eggs, tuna, fluffy peanut butter, canned or softened fruits and vegetables.
   • DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while treating a tongue wound.
   • You should also avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol when your tongue is not healed, as this can be painful.

9. 

   Take medication if necessary. If you go to the doctor, they will recommend what medications you should take or can take. Definitely follow your doctor's instructions. If the injury is not so severe that you need to see a doctor, you might consider using an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease the discomfort.
   • Some over-the-counter pain relievers that can be effective include acetaminophen (like Tylenol), ibuprofen (like Advil), or naproxen (like Aleve). Conventional or brand-name drugs that contain them are available at any pharmacy or at most grocery stores.
   • Always follow the directions on the package and ask your pharmacist if you have any questions.
   • Do not take ibuprofen or naproxen if you are pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant.

10. 

    Know when to see a doctor. If you experience one or more of the following, consider checking with your doctor:
    • If the wound gets worse instead of the pain
    • If your tongue or other parts of your mouth start to swell
    • If you have a fever
    • If you have trouble breathing
    • If the wound doesn't stop bleeding, or open again and start bleeding profusely again
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Advice

• Humans are not the only creatures that have their tongues stuck to cold metal surfaces, and dogs are also susceptible. If you leave your dog outside in cold weather, be sure to keep your dog's food and water out of a metal bowl. Use ceramic, glass or plastic bowls.
• If you want to learn the science behind the sticking of the tongue to cold metal surfaces, the Live Science website at http://www.livescience.com/32237-will-your-tongue-really-stick-to- a-frozen-flole.html has both informational chart and clear explanations.