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Fever In Children

Children’s Health

How do you know when your child has a fever?

* Your child’s chest or forehead may feel hot.

* He or she may sweat or feel sick.

* Your child’s temperature is:

– Higher than 99.5ºF by mouth or ear. (Higher than 100.5ºF with a pacifier thermometer.)

– Higher than 100.4ºF by rectum.

– Higher than 89.5ºF under the armpit.

Signs, Symptoms & Causes

Fever is a sign of another problem. Your child may have an infection. Exercise, hot weather, and shots like DTaP and MMR can also make your child’s temperature go up.

A thermometer measures temperature. There are many kinds of thermometers:

* Pacifier thermometers. These are for children 3 months old to 2 years old.

* Digital thermometers run on batteries. They are good and work in less than 30 seconds. (Make sure the batteries are good.)

* Temperature strips go on the forehead. They are easy to use, but do not give a good temperature reading.

* Ear thermometers work in 2 seconds or less. They are as good as oral thermometers, but they cost more.

You may not need to treat your child’s fever if it isn’t high and he or she feels O.K. But you should treat your child’s fever if it is high and your child feels bad or the fever makes it hard for your child to drink, eat, sleep, or do normal things.

You can take your child’s temperature by mouth, armpit, ear, or rectum. (The rectum is the opening where you pass solid waste.) A rectal reading is better than a mouth reading. It is 1°F higher than a mouth reading. An armpit reading is 1°F lower than a mouth reading, but does not give as good a reading.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care

* Make sure your child drinks a lot of fluids. Give fruit juice, water, and other cool drinks.

* Dress your child in light clothing.

* Have your child rest.

* For a high fever, sponge your child with warm (not cold or cool) water. Don’t use rubbing alcohol. Don’t let your child shower. Showering can make the fever go up.

* Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure you give the right kind and dose for his or her weight. (Note: Do not give aspirin. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome.)

* A fever can occur with other health problems. They include:

– Chickenpox.

– Coughs.

– Croup.

– Cuts, Scrapes & Punctures.

– Diarrhea.

– Earaches.

– Flu.

– Headaches.

– Seizures.

– Sore Throats.

– Swollen Glands.

– Wheezing.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Fever

General Health Conditions

The average normal temperature is about 98.6°F (37°C).

Signs & Symptoms

A fever means that body temperature is higher than:

* 99°F (37.2°C) under the arm.

* 99.5°F (37.5°C) by mouth or ear.

* 100.4°F (38°C) by rectum. Rectal temperatures are advised for infants.

Don’t use a glass mercury thermometer. If it breaks, droplets of toxic mercury can be released. If this happens, don’t use a vacuum or broom to clean up the mercury. Call your local health or fire department to find out what to do.

Causes

Fever is usually a sign of another problem, such as an infection.

Body temperature changes during the day. It is usually lowest in the morning and highest in the late afternoon and evening. Other factors can increase body temperature. These include:

* Wearing too much clothing.

* Exercise.

* Hot, humid weather.

* Taking a temperature by mouth after drinking a hot liquid, like tea.

Treatment

Treatment includes self-care measures and treating the cause.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* Drink lots of fluids, such as fruit juice, water, etc.

* Take a sponge bath with warm (about 70ºF) water. Don’t use cold or cool water. Don’t use rubbing alcohol.

* Take the right dose of an over-the-counter medicine to reduce fever, as directed.

* Rest.

* Don’t do heavy exercise.

* Don’t wear too many clothes. Don’t use too many blankets.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Seizures

Children’s Health

And How to Keep Your Child From Getting Fever Seizures

Signs, Symptoms & Causes

A seizure is like a short-circuit in the brain. Information in nerves in the brain gets mixed up. There are many forms of seizures.

A general seizure. This affects the whole brain. A convulsion happens with this kind. These are signs of a convulsion.

* The neck muscles or all the body muscles get stiff.

* The arms or legs jerk around.

* The eyes roll up and back in the head.

* The child falls down.

* The child blacks out.

* The child wets or soils his or her clothes.

An absence seizure. A convulsion does not happen with this kind of seizure. These are signs of this kind of seizure:

* The child stares into space. It looks like the child is not paying attention.

* The child smacks his or her lips.

* The child may blink over-and-over.

Seizures that come with a high fever.

In fact, high fevers cause most seizures in children ages 6 months to 5 years old. This happens when the body’s own temperature control isn’t working just right yet.

Sicknesses that make a child’s temperature go up fast can bring on seizures. Here are some other causes of seizures:

* Epilepsy.

* Poisons.

* Infections that cause a high fever.

* Drugs.

* Reye’s Syndrome.

* Snakebites.

* Some vaccinations.

Most seizures last from 1 to 5 minutes. Short seizures don’t cause problems unless the child stops breathing and turns blue. But a seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes can be a sign of a big problem. Let your child’s doctor know if your child has any kind of seizure.

How to Keep Your Child From Getting Fever Seizures

Keep trying to bring the fever down until it is 101ºF or less. Try to bring your child’s fever down fast:

* Dress your child in light, loose clothes or take off most of his or her clothes.

* Ask your doctor about fever-lowering suppositories.

* Put washcloths rinsed in lukewarm (not cold) water on your child’s forehead and neck. Don’t use rubbing alcohol.

* Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure you give the right kind and dose for his or her weight. Do this if the fever gets above 103°F. (Note: Do not give aspirin. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome.)

Questions to Ask

Self-Care

Don’t panic! A fever seizure will stop by itself in a few minutes. The two things you can do are:

* Try to keep your child from getting hurt during the seizure.

* Lower his or her fever.

Follow these tips during the seizure:

* Protect your child from falling and hitting his or her head. (Watch out for tables and sharp things.)

* Make sure your child can breathe:

– Roll the child on his or her side so spit can drain from the mouth.

– Gently pull on the jaw and bend the neck back. (This opens up the throat.)

* Don’t put anything in your child’s mouth. Children hardly ever bite their tongues during a fever seizure.

* Don’t give your child any medicine, food, or drink by mouth.

Follow these tips after the seizure:

* If the seizure was from a fever, start lowering the fever. Sponge your child’s body with lukewarm water. Don’t use rubbing alcohol. Don’t put the child in a bathtub. Don’t use an ice pack. It drops the temperature too fast.

* Your child will probably be sleepy after the seizure. He or she may not remember anything. This is O.K.

* Dress the child in light, loose clothes. Put him or her to sleep in a cool room.

* Let your child’s doctor know about the seizure.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Fatigue

General Health Conditions

With fatigue, a person is tired, weary, and lacks energy. Often, fatigue is a symptom of another health problem.

Signs & Symptoms

* Feeling drained of energy.

* Feeling exhausted.

* Having a very hard time doing normal activities.

* Having low motivation.

* Feeling inadequate.

* Having little desire for sex.

Causes

Causes that need medical care include anemia, depression, heart disease, low thyroid, lupus (the systemic type), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Other physical causes include: Lack of sleep; poor diet; side effects of medicines; allergies; drug or alcohol problems; being in hot, humid conditions; and the flu.

Possible emotional causes are burnout, boredom, and a major life change, such as divorce or retirement.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause. Tell your doctor about any other symptoms that occur with the fatigue. He or she will explore both physical and emotional causes.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* If fatigue is due to a medical problem, follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s guidelines for rest, diet, medication, etc.

* Get regular physical activity. Exercise can give you more energy, especially if you sit all day at work. Exercise can calm you, too.

* Cool off. Working or playing in hot weather can drag you down. Rest in a cool, dry place as often as you can. Drink plenty of water.

* Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol.

* Don’t use illegal drugs.

* Lighten your work load. Assign tasks to others when you can, both at work and at home. Ask for help when you need it from family and friends. Hire help if you need to.

* Change your routine. Try to do something new and that you want to do every day.

* If you do too much, make time for some peace and quiet.

* Do something for yourself. Plan time to do things that meet only your needs, not just those of others.

Resources

Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia

www.treatcfsfm.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Fatigue & Autoimmune Diseases

Women’s Health

Fatigue is being very tired, weary, and lacking energy. Often, it is a symptom of other health problems.

Signs & Symptoms

* Feeling drained of energy.

* Feeling exhausted.

* Having a very hard time doing normal activities.

* Having low motivation.

* Feeling inadequate.

* Having little desire for sex.

Causes

Causes that need medical care include anemia, depression, heart disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome (the fatigue lasts at least 6 months). Fatigue is also a common symptom of autoimmune diseases. These include diabetes, low thyroid, multiple sclerosis, and lupus (the systemic type).

Other physical causes include lack of leisure activities or lack of sleep; poor diet; side effects from allergies, chemical sensitivities or drug or alcohol addiction; being in hot, humid conditions; and prolonged effects of the flu or a bad cold.

Possible emotional causes are burnout, boredom, and a major life change (e.g., divorce, retirement, etc.).

Treatment

Treatment for fatigue depends on the cause(s). Keep track of any other symptoms that occur with the fatigue. This helps find out both physical and emotional causes.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

If fatigue is due to a medical condition, follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s guidelines for rest, diet, medication, etc.

* Get regular physical activity. Exercise can give you more energy, especially if you sit all day at work. Exercise can calm you, too.

* Cool off. Working or playing in hot weather can drag you down. Rest in a cool, dry place as often as you can. Drink plenty of water.

* Rest and relax. Get a good night’s sleep. Relax during the day if you can, too. Practice deep breathing or meditation.

* Eat well. Eating too much and “crash dieting” are both hard on your body. Don’t skip breakfast. Limit high-fat and/or rich, sugary foods. Eat whole-grain breads and cereals and fruits and vegetables every day. Have 5 to 6 light meals a day, instead of 3 large ones. Take vitamin and mineral supplements, as advised by your doctor.

* Change your routine. Do something interesting each day. If you do too much, plan for some quiet time.

* Lighten your work load. Assign tasks to others when you can. Ask for help when you need it.

* Do something for yourself. Plan time to do things that meet only your needs.

* Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol. Don’t use illegal drugs. These trigger fatigue.

Resources

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Information Exchange Forum (Co-Cure)

www.co-cure.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Fainting

Women’s Health

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. It can last from seconds to 30 minutes.

Signs & Symptoms

Just before fainting, a person may feel a sense of dread and feel dizzy. She may see spots and have nausea. Her face may turn pale, she could go into a cold sweat, and she could fall over.

If a person falls and can’t remember the fall itself, she has fainted.

Causes

Fainting is due to a sudden drop in blood flow or glucose supply to the brain. This causes a temporary drop in blood pressure and pulse rate. Medical reasons for this include:

* Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is common in early pregnancy. It can also occur in diabetes, in persons on severe diets, etc.

* Anemia.

* Any condition that causes a rapid loss of blood. This can be from internal bleeding, such as with a peptic ulcer, a tubal pregnancy, or a ruptured cyst.

* Heart and circulatory problems, such as abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack, or stroke.

* Eating disorders.

* Toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

* Seizures.

Other Causes of Fainting

* Any procedure that stretches the cervix, such as having an IUD inserted.

* Extreme pain.

* A sudden change in body position, such as standing up too fast.

* Sudden emotional stress or fright.

* A side effect of some prescription drugs, such as some that lower blood pressure.

* Recreational drugs or excessive alcohol.

* Being in hot, humid weather or being in a stuffy room.

Know what to do when someone faints.

Dos

* Catch the person before she falls.

* Lie the person down with her head below the level of the heart. Raise the legs 8 to 12 inches to promote blood flow to the brain. If the person can’t lie down, have her sit down, bend forward, and put her head between her knees.

* Turn the person’s head to the side so the tongue doesn’t fall back into the throat and to prevent choking on vomit.

* Loosen any tight clothing, but keep the person warm, especially if the surroundings are chilly.

* Apply moist towels to the person’s face and neck.

Don’ts

* Don’t slap or shake anyone who’s just fainted.

* Don’t try to give the person anything to eat or drink, not even water, until she is fully conscious.

* Don’t allow the person who’s fainted to get up until the sense of physical weakness passes. Then be watchful for a few minutes to be sure she doesn’t faint again.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* When you feel faint, lie down and elevate both legs. Or, sit down, bend forward and put your head between your knees.

* Get up slowly from bed or from a sitting position.

* Follow your doctor’s advice to treat any condition which may lead to fainting. Take prescribed medicines, but tell your doctor about any side effects, so he or she can monitor your condition.

* Don’t wear tight clothing around your neck.

* Avoid turning your head suddenly.

* Stay out of stuffy rooms and hot, humid places. If you can’t, use a fan.

* If you have fainting spells often, avoid activities that can put lives in danger, such as driving a car.

* Drink a lot of fluids, but drink alcoholic ones in moderation, if at all. Eat small, frequent meals.

When Pregnant

* Get out of bed slowly.

* Keep crackers at your bedside and eat a few before getting out of bed.

* Eat small, frequent meals instead of a few large ones. With each meal, have a good source of protein, such as lean meat, low-fat cheese, milk, etc. Avoid sweets. Don’t skip meals or go for a long time without eating. Drink plenty of fluids.

* Don’t sit for long periods of time. Elevate your legs when you sit.

* When you stand, as in a line, move your legs to pump blood up to your heart.

* Take vitamin and mineral supplements, as your doctor prescribes.

* Don’t lay on your back during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of your pregnancy. Lie on your left side. When you can’t, lie on your right side.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Fainting & Unconsciousness

First Aid

Signs & Symptoms

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. It can last from seconds to 30 minutes. Just before fainting, a person may feel a sense of dread, feel dizzy, see spots, and have nausea.

If a person falls and can’t remember the fall itself, he or she has fainted.

An unconscious person is hard to rouse and can’t be made aware of his or her surroundings. The person is unable to move on his or her own.

Causes

Fainting is due to a sudden drop in blood flow or glucose supply to the brain. This causes a temporary drop in blood pressure and pulse rate. Medical reasons for this include:

* Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This can occur in diabetics, in early pregnancy, in persons on severe diets, etc.

* Anemia. Eating disorders.

* Conditions which cause rapid loss of blood.

* Abnormal heart rhythm. Heart attack. Stroke.

* Head injury. Heat stroke. Heat exhaustion.

Other things that can lead to feeling faint or fainting include:

* A sudden change in body position like standing up too fast. This is called postural hypotension.

* A side effect of some medicines. Drinking too much alcohol.

* Anxiety or sudden emotional stress or fright.

* Being in hot, humid weather or in a stuffy room. Standing a long time in one place.

* Extreme pain.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

For Unconsciousness

* Check for a response. Call 9-1-1! Give Rescue Breaths and CPR, or treat for Shock, as needed.

* Check for a medical alert tag or information. Call the emergency number if there is one. Follow instructions given.

* Don’t give the person anything to eat or drink, not even water.

For Fainting

* Catch the person before he or she falls.

* Lie the person down with the head below heart level. Raise the legs 8 to 12 inches to promote blood flow to the brain. If the person can’t lie down, have him or her sit down, bend forward, and put the head between the knees.

* Loosen any tight clothing.

* Don’t slap or shake a person. Don’t give anything to eat or drink.

* Check for a medical alert tag. Respond as needed.

To Reduce the Risk of Fainting

* Follow your doctor’s advice to treat any medical problem which may lead to fainting. Take medicines as prescribed. Let the doctor know about any side effects.

* Get up slowly from bed or from a chair.

* Avoid turning your head suddenly.

* Wear loose-fitting clothing around the neck.

* Don’t exercise too much when it is hot and humid. Drink a lot of fluids when you exercise.

* Avoid stuffy rooms and hot, humid places. When you can’t do this, use a fan.

* If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

For a Low Blood Sugar Reaction

* Have a sugar source, such as: One half cup of fruit juice or regular (not diet) soda; 6 to 7 regular (not sugar free) hard candies; 3 glucose tablets; or 6 to 8 ounces of milk.

* If you don’t feel better after 15 minutes, take the same amount of sugar source again. If you don’t feel better after the second dose, call your doctor.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Eyestrain From Computer Use

Eye Conditions

Persons who use computer video display terminals (VDTs) at work and/or at home may notice eyestrain.

Signs & Symptoms

* Eye discomfort or irritation. This includes dry, red, and/or watery eyes.

* Eye fatigue.

* Having a hard time focusing.

* Back pain, shoulder pain, and headaches may also occur.

Causes

The cause of eyestrain is most likely from conditions that surround the VDT, not the VDT itself. These include improper positioning of the VDT and supplies, poor lighting, and/or poor posture.

A pre-existing eye problem may also be the cause.

Treatment

Self-care measures prevent and treat eyestrain when using VDTs.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* Place the screen so that your line of sight is 10 to 15 degrees (about one-third of a 45-degree angle) below horizontal.

* Position the VDT screen about 2 feet away from your eyes. This is a little farther away than normal reading distance.

* Dust the screen often.

* Reduce glare. Place the VDT at right angles to a window. Turn off or shield overhead lights. Wear a visor to block them, if needed.

* Place your paperwork close enough that you don’t have to keep refocusing when switching from the screen to the paper. Use a paper document holder placed at the same height as the VDT screen.

* Blink often to keep your eyes from getting dry. Use “artificial tear” eyedrops, if needed.

* Tell your eye specialist that you use a VDT. Glasses and contacts worn for other activities may not be good for VDT work. With bifocals, the near-vision part of the lens is good for looking down, as when you read, but not for looking straight ahead, as when you look at a video display screen. You may need single-vision lenses for VDT work.

* If the image on the VDT screen is blurred, dull, or flickers, have it serviced right away.

Resources

Prevent Blindness America

www.preventblindness.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Eye Problems

Children’s Health

Signs, Symptoms & Causes

There are many kinds of eye problems that children get. Here are some of them:

* Blocked tear ducts. Tears made by the eye can’t drain into the tear ducts if they are blocked. The baby’s eyes water even when the baby is not crying. This usually happens to babies up to 2 months old. Most blocked tear ducts open up by the time the child is 1 year old.

* Crossed eyes. Often, this problem goes away with no treatment.

* Swelling and pain inside the eyelids and on the whites of the eyes. This is called conjunctivitis. There are many kinds of conjunctivitis. Pinkeye is one kind. It is an infection. Other infections, chemicals, allergens, or things that get in the eye can also cause conjunctivitis.

* Drooping eyelid over part of the eye. This is called ptosis. It is usually caused by weak nerves in the eye lid. Your child can be born with it. Or it can happen with another muscle problem.

* Sty. This is an infection on the eyelid. It looks like a pimple. Most sties go away with home treatments.

* Vision problems. Here are a few examples:

– Nearsightedness (can’t see things far away).

– Farsightedness (can’t see things close up).

– Astigmatism (blurry vision from an eye that is not shaped right, or from losing an eye).

It’s hard to know if your child has vision problems until he or she is 3 years old. (The eye is still developing until then.)

* Take your child for their first eye exam at 3 years old.

* Take your child for another eye exam before he or she starts school.

* Watch for problems at any age. Look for changes in the eyes, eyelids, or the skin around the eyes.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care

A doctor should treat a hurt or infected eye. But you can treat some eye problems at home.

* For a blocked tear duct:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Press gently on the inner corner of the eye with a cotton swab. Press up, not down, for a few seconds to a few minutes.

* For dry eyes, try over-the-counter “tears.” Some kinds are Ocu-Lube®, Refresh®, or Liquifilm®. Wash your hands before you put drops in the eyes. If your child’s eyes don’t get better, take him or her to the doctor.

* To help with an insect bite, gently wash the eyes with warm water.

* To help the pain of a hurt eye that is not infected:

– Put a warm (not hot), wet wash cloth on the eye for 5 minutes. Do this 2 or 3 times a day.

– Use over-the-counter eye drops.

– Don’t let your child wear contact lenses or makeup until the eye is better.

* If the eye is infected:

– Wash your hands and your child’s hands every time you touch the eye. (Pinkeye is very easy to catch.)

– Don’t share a towel with someone who has pinkeye.

– Keep your child away from light if he or she got pinkeye from the measles.

– Don’t cover the eye. This can make the infection worse.

* Here’s how to get something out of your child’s eye: (Make sure you can see the speck before you try to get it out.)

1. Wash your hands.

2. Drip clean water into the eye to rinse it.

3. Twist a piece of tissue at each end. Wet the tip with tap water, not spit. Gently touch the speck with the tip. The speck should stick to the tip.

– Tell your child to look down if the speck is under the upper lid. Pull the upper lid away from the eye. Do this by gently pulling on the eyelashes. When you can see the speck, try to touch it with the tissue.

– Don’t rub the eye. And never use anything sharp to touch your child’s eye.

4. Gently wash the eye with cool water.

* To help with pain from a sty:

– Put a warm (not hot), wash cloth on the sty 3 or 4 times a day for 5 or 10 minutes each time.

– Keep your child away from dust and dirt that can get in his or her eyes.

– Don’t poke or squeeze the sty!

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Eye Injuries & Irritation

First Aid

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms depend on the cause. Common symptoms are:

* Pain and/or swelling in or around the eye(s).

* The eyes burn, are dry, and/or itch.

Causes

For Eye Injuries

* A physical blow to the eye.

* Harsh chemicals.

* A foreign body is stuck in the eye.

For Eye Irritation

* Particles in the eye.

* Too much sun exposure.

* Low humidity.

* Strong wind.

* Scratches from contact lenses.

Other causes are allergies, infections, and conditions that make the eyes dry. With aging, the eyes can get irritated more easily because they make less tears.

Treatment

Mild eye irritations and injuries can be treated with self-care. More serious problems need medical care.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

For a Foreign Body Sticking Into the Eye

* Do not remove the object.

* Don’t press on, touch, or rub the eye.

* Cover the injured eye with a clean object, such as a paper cup that will shield, but not touch the eye or the foreign object. Use tape to hold the cup in place without putting pressure on the eye or the foreign object.

* Gently cover the uninjured eye with a clean bandage and tape, too. This helps to keep the injured eye still. Get Immediate Care!

For Harmful Chemicals in the Eye(s)

* Flush the eye(s) with water immediately!

* Hold the injured eye open with your thumb and forefinger. At the faucet or with a pitcher or other clean container, flush the eye with a lot of water. Start at the inside corner and pour downward to the outside corner. This lets the water drain away from the body and keeps it from getting in the other eye.

* Keep pouring the water for 10 to 30 or more minutes. Flush the eye with water until you get medical help.

* If both eyes are injured, pour water over both eyes at the same time. Or, flush one eye at a time with water. Switch back and forth quickly to treat both eyes. Or, place the face in a sink or container filled with water. Tell the person to move his or her eyelids up and down and remove the face from the water to take breaths. Use this method if chemicals get in your eyes and you are alone.

* Loosely bandage the eye with sterile cloth and tape. Don’t touch the eye. Get Medical Care Right Away!

For a Bruise from a Minor Injury that Surrounds the Eye, But Does Not Damage the Eye Itself

* Put a cold compress over the injured area right away. Do this for 15 minutes, every hour, for 48 hours.

* Take an over-the-counter medicine for the pain and swelling.

* After 48 hours, put a warm compress over the injured area.

* Seek medical care if these measures do not help.

To Remove a Foreign Particle On the White of the Eye or Inside the Eyelids

* Do not remove an object stuck in the eye, a metal chip, or a foreign body over the colored part of the eye.

* Wash your hands.

* If the foreign object is under the upper lid, look down and pull the upper lid away from the eyeball by gently grabbing the eyelashes. Press a cotton-tipped swab down on the skin surface of the upper eyelid and pull it up and toward the brow. The upper lid will invert.

* Twist a piece of tissue. Moisten the tip with tap water (not saliva). Gently try to touch the speck with the tip. Carefully pass the tissue over the speck which should cling to the tip.

* Do not rub the eye or use tweezers or anything sharp to remove a foreign object.

* Gently wash the eye with cool water.

For Dry, Irritated Eyes

With your doctor’s okay, use over-the-counter artificial tear drops, such as Ocu-Lube. Refrigerate the solution, if needed. Wash your hands before using.

For an Insect Bite Without a Severe Allergic Reaction

* Wash the eye(s) with warm water.

* Take an antihistamine if okay with your doctor.

Prevention

* Wear safety glasses when your eyes are exposed to sawdust, etc. Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.

* When using harsh chemicals, wear rubber gloves and protective glasses. Don’t rub your eyes if you’ve touched harsh chemicals. Turn your head away from chemical vapors.

* To help prevent dry eyes, use a humidifier. Limit exposure to smoke, dust, and wind. Don’t drink alcohol.

* Use artificial tear drops with your doctor’s okay.

* Don’t stare directly at the sun, especially during a solar eclipse.

* Don’t use eye makeup when an allergy or chemical irritant bothers your eye(s).

* Don’t allow a child to stick his or her head out of the window of a moving car, etc. Sand, insects, and other flying objects can strike the eye and irritate or damage the cornea.

* Don’t let children play with or near sparklers, bottle rockets, and other fireworks.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026