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Product Review
by Tom Trimble, RN CEN
of
Body Piercing Jewelry Removal Kit
from
Scott L.
DeBoer,
RN MSN CEN CCRN CFRN
of
Peds-R-Us
Medical Education, LLC
In my institution, when patients have rings that can't be slipped off, it is the Emergency Department to which they are referred or where the ring saw is borrowed. As the hospital entry point, we must prepare, for further treatment, patients who hadn't planned on wearing a hospital gown and whose decorations may be unfamiliar or even a risk.
Scott DeBoer, is a successful Emergency Flight Nurse and continuing education entrepreneur based in the Chicago area. He presents not only with his commercial business, but also at ENA's Scientific Assembly. There is a strong emphasis on pediatrics in his work, which correlates with his "Body Piercing Jewelry Removal Kit" product: a self-contained six-part system to demystify body art and help emergency professionals be able to deal with piercing jewelry adornments when they interfere with needed emergency care.
A fitted bookshelf vinyl case encloses: a 60 minute VHS video "Tattoos, Tongues, Teen & Trauma" describing the body art phenomenon and its medical implications; a 20 minute VHS video demonstrating "Step-By-Step Body Piercing Removal"; two sizes of quality "Ring Opening Pliers" tools; an illustrated handbook to quickly refresh memory and illustrate removal techniques; and samples of three types of jewelry with which to practice and familiarize oneself. Together, it comprises a comprehensive educational preparation for staff to successfully deal with "metal that is in the way".
Production values are high for an independent production. The single-camera videography and audio may be simple but is clear and sharp and decently edited for educational effectiveness. There is no murkiness or mumbling. All is easily seen. VHS format ensures widest possible common-denominator ability to view in nearly any setting or audio-visual resource availability. If new staff have "missed" a classroom presentation, the kit is easily loaned for home study.
"Tattoos, Tongues, Teen & Trauma" is a stand-up (as if the lecturer is in your own living room, including some mildly arch drollery . . . ) thorough review of the variety of body art that you may encounter including the variety of body parts that may be decorated, with attention to what is or is not of concern during emergency care: --It is less of a problem than one might think, but caution is needed, if removing an item, to not drop it into the airway. Even CT or MRI may not necessarily mandate removal. It also dismisses urban legends such as defibrillator use in the presence of nipple rings. History, both ancient and modern, statistics and demographics, and latest trends. Tattoos, piercings, branding, scarification, etching, and suspensions are described and shown, one views the piercing process, and actual testing within CT and MRI was done.
In "Step-By-Step Body Piercing Removal", DeBoer gives medical commentary while teamed up with Troy Amundson, EMT-B, a professional piercer who demonstrates actual removal methods with good close-ups, or how to work around jewelry in situ --with tips on gloves, hemostat use, surgical lubricant, and preserving of fresh "holes" from closure.
The illustrated handbook will provide ready reference for trained staff who may need to refresh their memory before beginning a procedure.
The "Ring Opening Pliers" are well-made tools that upon squeezing spread open tension rings and have walled steps to prevent the ring from sliding off while being spread.
The sample jewelry allows inspection, study, comparison, and practice.
The "Body Piercing Jewelry Removal Kit" delivers all that it promises, and more. It was informative, disarming, and helpful. It took away anxiety and concern, and left me feeling *confident* that I would be able to discuss, decide, and competently remove (when necessary) body jewelry without feeling like a dolt. I now feel able to regard these decorations as less alien, garish, or intimidating than before. This kit would be a suitable acquisition for Emergency Departments and their training programs, or might be shared with the Pre-Operative area, Ambulatory Surgery, Pediatrics, OB-GYN Labor & Delivery.
| Date of Review: May 2006 | Tom Trimble, RN CEN, is an experienced Emergency Nurse, Instructor, and the Editor & Publisher of this website. The opinions expressed are his own. |
| Disclosure: ENW! receives sample books for impartial review under its GUIDELINES. ENW! has no financial arrangements with publishers or authors. Where present, a purchase link is provided by ENW! as a convenience to its readers. The non-obligatory use of these links sometimes provides a small fee to ENW! (if from amazon.com) which provides no significant portion of operating costs for the website. ENW! is non-profit and dedicated solely to the interests of the Emergency Nursing specialty for which it is operated in trust. This page, as all others of the website, and the opinions of reviewers are subject to our DISCLAIMER. | |
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