Buzz
If you've ever watched movies like 'A Christmas Story' or 'Dumb and Dumber', you're probably familiar with the comical situation where someone's tongue gets stuck to a frozen metal pole during a cold winter day. Unfortunately, this isn't just a funny movie scenario—it's something that can happen in real life to real people. If you or someone you know is trying to free their tongue from a frozen metal surface, there are a few simple methods you can try to help get them out of this sticky situation.
Steps
Self-Rescue
Stay calm. The most important thing you can do is stay calm. If you're by yourself, it might be difficult to keep your composure, but try taking a few deep breaths and relax.
- Try not to panic when you realize you're stuck to the frozen surface. If you yank your tongue too hard, you'll literally tear the frozen surface, causing injury (and bleeding). This should be a last resort.
- If you see someone nearby, try signaling for help by waving or shouting (as loudly as you can). Having someone assist you will help reduce your stress levels.
Use your hands to warm the frozen surface. If you're alone, this might be your first solution to try. The reason your tongue gets stuck is that the metal surface is frozen, pulling heat from your tongue. To free your tongue, you'll need to warm the metal surface somehow.
- One way to warm the frozen surface is by using your breath. Cup your hands around your mouth (but be careful not to touch your lips or hands to the metal surface, as they can absorb moisture and stick too) and breathe warm air onto the area where your tongue is stuck.
- You can also use a scarf or coat to block the cold wind and help warm your breath.
- Gently pull on your tongue to see if it loosens or even comes free.
Pour warm liquid onto the frozen surface. If you happen to have a cup of hot coffee, tea, chocolate, or any other liquid, use it to warm up the metal surface. Pour the liquid onto the metal surface where your tongue is stuck and try gently pulling your tongue away.
- Warm water is ideal in this situation, but you can use any other liquid if necessary.
- Yes, even urine. While not recommended, if you're alone and have no other options, this could be a last resort. Consider using this method only in an emergency.
Call for emergency help. Calling for emergency assistance is the best option. Of course, you can only do this if you have a phone and are able to use it.
- When calling for help, you might not be able to speak clearly to the operator. Stay calm, try to explain what happened and your location as best as you can. If necessary, they can trace your call to locate you.
Pull your tongue off quickly. Consider this method as a last resort if all other options fail, but truly, you should never let it come to this. This choice will likely cause some injury and be extremely painful. Gather all your courage and pull your tongue quickly from the frozen surface.
- Warming the metal surface with breath and using a scarf or coat to block wind is usually enough to free body parts from frozen materials, even at temperatures of -40°C or lower.
- Once freed, seek medical attention immediately to care for the injured tongue.
Assist others
Encourage the person to remain calm and avoid pulling their tongue away. When the tongue is wet and exposed to the temperature of the body, it can stick to the cold metal surface due to the metal drawing all the heat out of the tongue – quite literally. As the heat is drawn away from the tongue, the saliva freezes and bonds to the metal surface like superglue. Additionally, the taste buds on the tongue will stick tightly to the metal surface.
- Due to the strong adhesion, gently pulling the tongue away will not work.
- Pulling the tongue forcefully may cause a part of the tongue to remain stuck to the metal, resulting in severe bleeding.
- If you come across someone trying to deal with their tongue stuck to a frozen metal surface, tell them to stay calm and avoid pulling their tongue, as this could cause more harm.
Make sure that the person is not suffering from any other injuries. Unless you witnessed the incident where the person’s tongue stuck to the metal, you might not know what other injuries they could have. Check if they are alright and whether they have any other injuries.
- If they have sustained other injuries, especially if the injuries are significant (for example, swelling or bruising), you should call for help immediately.
Tell the person to take deep breaths. If you are able to warm the metal surface, the tongue may detach on its own. One method is to instruct them to breathe warm air onto the metal surface as much as possible while cupping their hands around their mouth to concentrate the warmth.
- You could also attempt to cover the metal surface to warm it up, helping to direct the breath towards the metal.
- Be cautious not to let them accidentally stick their lips or hands to the metal, as this would worsen the situation.
Find some warm water. If you are nearby or can get warm water from a tap, take a cup or bottle of warm (not hot) water. Pour it onto the affected area of the person’s tongue where it is stuck. At this point, you can ask the person to gently pull their tongue away from the metal surface.
- If you cannot find warm water and warming the surface isn’t working, you may need to call for emergency help.
- The liquid doesn’t necessarily have to be water. If you or anyone passing by has a cup of warm coffee or tea, etc., those will work too. It might just get a little messier.
Call for emergency assistance. If neither the warmth of the air nor the warm water is effective, you will need to make a call. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures occur regularly, the emergency services may already be familiar with how to handle such incidents where tongues get stuck to frozen metal surfaces.
Handling Tongue Injuries
Wash your hands. Since you'll need to use your hands to control the bleeding, it's best to wash them thoroughly first if possible. Of course, this may be more challenging when you're trying to tend to the injury.
- Alternatively, you can use medical gloves if you happen to have some or can find them nearby.
- Try to avoid using your bare hands to touch the tongue when stopping the bleeding, if possible.
Sit upright with your head leaning forward. You don't want to swallow any blood, as it could lead to nausea and vomiting. Sit up straight, with your head bent forward to allow the blood to flow out of your mouth.
- If there is anything in your mouth when the injury occurs, spit it out (like chewing gum, for example).
- If you're wearing any piercings in or around your mouth that are easy to remove, take them out.
Stop the bleeding. Apply a clean cloth, or the cleanest you can find, to the tongue. Only use your bare hands if nothing else is available, especially if you haven't had the opportunity to wash your hands yet.
- Since it's winter and you're outdoors, a scarf or hat might also be helpful. However, avoid using gloves as they are more likely to become dirty.
- Any cuts or tears on the tongue will bleed heavily due to the numerous blood vessels in the tongue (and the rest of the mouth). This can actually be beneficial, as the abundance of blood vessels speeds up the healing process.
Apply consistent pressure for 15 minutes. Keep whatever material you're pressing against the wound in place for at least 15 minutes. Set a timer to ensure you maintain pressure for the full 15 minutes. Do not attempt to lift the material to check if the bleeding has stopped.
- If the material becomes soaked with blood, apply another layer on top without removing or loosening the first one.
- Typically, the bleeding will subside after 15 minutes, though some light bleeding may continue for up to 45 minutes.
- If the wound continues to bleed heavily after 15 minutes, call for help or go to the emergency room.
- Avoid strenuous activity for several days after the injury. Exercising or straining yourself can increase blood pressure and cause the wound to bleed again.
Reduce pain and swelling with ice. You might not want to put ice directly in your mouth right now, but it's actually quite helpful. Instead of ice, you can use a cold compress (like a clean washcloth soaked in cold water) if you prefer.
- There are two ways you can use ice. The first is simply by sucking on a piece of ice or crushed ice. The second option is wrapping the ice in a thin piece of fabric (clean) and pressing it gently against the injury on your tongue.
- Apply the ice or cold compress for 1 to 3 minutes per session, 6 to 10 times a day, at least on the first day of your recovery.
- Ice or cold therapy will not only reduce swelling and stop further bleeding, but it will also help ease the pain.
- You could also opt for an ice lolly or a similar item if you prefer to use something other than plain ice.
Rinse your mouth regularly with salt water. Prepare a saltwater solution by mixing one teaspoon of salt into a glass of water. Use this saltwater solution to rinse your mouth by swishing it around, then spit it out. Do not swallow the saltwater.
- Start using saltwater for rinsing only the day after you get injured.
- Use the saltwater rinse at least after every meal, but no more than 4 to 6 times per day.
Keep yourself warm. While your tongue (or lips) are healing, you may be more susceptible to cold burns or frostbite (skin irritation or swelling) in those areas. It's important to protect yourself from the cold by wearing scarves, gloves, or a hat that covers your face while you're recovering from your injury.
Be cautious with food. Your tongue and mouth will not only hurt but may also be highly sensitive. In the early stages, try to stick to soft foods. Avoid salty, spicy, or highly acidic foods, as they could cause additional pain when eating.
- Consider eating soft foods such as milkshakes, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, eggs, tuna, smooth peanut butter, or soft-cooked vegetables and fruits.
- DO NOT smoke or consume alcoholic beverages while healing your tongue injury.
- You should also avoid mouthwashes containing alcohol until your tongue heals, as these products may cause a stinging sensation.
Take medication if necessary. If you visit a doctor, they may recommend a specific medication for you to take. Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully. If the injury isn't severe enough to warrant a doctor visit, you might consider using over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate discomfort.
- Some over-the-counter pain relievers that could help include acetaminophen (like Tylenol), ibuprofen (like Advil), or naproxen (like Aleve). These medications are available at most pharmacies and grocery stores.
- Always follow the instructions on the medicine packaging, and consult a pharmacist if you have any questions.
- Do not use ibuprofen or naproxen if you are pregnant or suspect you might be pregnant.
Know when to see a doctor. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should consider consulting a doctor to examine the injury:
- If the pain intensifies instead of getting better.
- If your tongue or any other part of your mouth begins to swell.
- If you develop a fever.
- If you have trouble breathing.
- If the injury doesn't stop bleeding or starts bleeding heavily again.
Tips
- Humans are not the only creatures who can get their tongues stuck to cold metal surfaces—dogs are also at risk. If you leave your dog outside in cold weather, make sure to avoid using metal bowls for their food and water. Opt for ceramic, glass, or plastic bowls instead.
- If you're curious about the science behind the phenomenon of a tongue sticking to a cold metal surface, Live Science has posted an informative article, complete with a helpful chart and clear explanations, at http://www.livescience.com/32237-will-your-tongue-really-stick-to-a-frozen-flagpole.html.
