Foreign object in the nose: if the object cannot be dislodged easily, what should you do?

• A. If you can easily see & grasp the object, remove it
• B. Prevent person from trying to remove object or blowing nose
• C. If object cannot be dislodged easily, leave it to be removed by medical professional
• D. Blow nose to loosen the object

Answer: (C)

When a foreign object in the nose won’t come out easily, the safest step is to have a medical professional remove it. Forcing removal or asking the person to blow their nose can push the object deeper into the nasal passages or toward the airway, and can cause nasal tissue injury, bleeding, or even aspiration. If you can see and safely grasp the object, a clinician may remove it with proper tools, but otherwise you should avoid probing, poking, or attempting to extract it yourself. Keep the person calm and seek medical care promptly.