The Hole Story: The Implications of Body Piercing

The Hole Story: The Implications Of Body Piercing..................

By Steve Berry BA, NREMT-P

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WARNING - SOME OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES ON THE NEXT PAGE ARE GRAPHIC INTENSE,
PARENTAL GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTED. - Click here to view Piercing Pictures

OBJECTIVES

Describe the history of body piercing from before the 20th century leading up to today.
List a variety of reasons people in our culture and society decide to have their body pierced.
Describe the various types of body piercing jewelry made available and the body locations they are used for.
Identify the potential medical hazards of body piercing and the implications it may have for the emergency health care provider.
Describe when and how it may be necessary to remove body piercing jewelry during a medical emergency.

HISTORY OF BODY PIERCING

Body piercining has been practiced in many cultures for many centuries. Body piercing was often identified with royalty and portrayed courage and virility.

Egyptian Pharaohs pierced their navels as a rite of passage

Roman soldiers pierced their nipples to show their courage

Victorian royalty chose nipple and genital piercings as a mark of higher society

Many African and Asian cultures that practice piercing and scarring believe that one is not fully human, and connot exercise the innate abilities that distinguish humans from other animals if the body is not properly adorned or altered.

Throughout the 18th and early 20th centuries sailors, soldiers, and tough working class men collected markings and piercings on the body as badges of masculinity and icons of freedom and individuality.

The punk movement began as protest by British working-class youg people as a form of rebellion and changed their appearance as a way of mocking society.

Why do people in western cultures get piercings?
membership/commitment celebration special event fashion statement	rebellion ethnic roots/religion passage/ritual/custom S&M
What is a healed piercing? Fistula: A passage, lined by unbroken skin for its entire length, passing through flesh. It will not weep or ooze and is permanent. Jewelry can be changed safely and easily.
Types of Piercings:
soft tissue cartilage surface to surface
When piercings should not be performed:
heart valve disease skin infection immune suppression corticosteriods chemotherapy	anti-coagulant therapy under age of consent significant health hx (diabetes) history of keloids
A qualified piercer should:
have a clean and tidy environment use single-use needles have an autoclave use universal precautions restrict to one client per room	have Red Cross training be registered with the Dept. of Health have a portfolio and references be sober provide detailed after-care sheets belong to association of Prefessional Piercers
Materials Used for Jewelry:
gold titanium niobium sugical stainless steel	acrylic bone wood
Common piercing sites:
eyebrow earlobe ear concha tongue labret nostril	nipple navel penis/scrotum clitoral hood labia
Healing time:
naval: 3-4 months ears: 5+ weeks surface: 11-15 months	tongue: 2 weeks genitalia: 4 weeks - 1 year
Piercings prone to rejection:
pubic nipples eyebrows naval	web of hands throat most flat skin piercings bridge of nose
Risks during and after piercings:
allergic reaction bleeding syncopal episode blood poisoning migration/rejection scarring/deformity keloids	nerve damage hepatitis/HIV aspiration tears embolism infection
Increased risk for infection:
sweat and exsercise tight-fitting clothes knocking of piercing contact with body fluids	excessive touching hot tubs cleaning agents poor health history
Impact on Emergency Health Care:
Only 6 out of 28 ER doctors knew how to open the most common body piercing jewelry Journal of Accident and Emergency Medicine
Impact on Emergency Health Care:
airway c-spine immobilization mast sager splint	urethral catheterization childbirth radiology/MRI defibrillation
Extreme Body Modification:
branding scarification implants	hanging from flesh hooks sundances/o-kee-pa extraction
WARNING - SOME OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES ON THE NEXT PAGE ARE GRAPHIC INTENSE, PARENTAL GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTED. - Click here to view Piercing Pictures

Interested in Medical Tools for removing Body Piercings?

Please Contact:

Crystal Serrano
75395 Road 450 - Elm Creek, NE 68836
308-233-8707 - 800-414-5052
serrob@nebi.com