[caesie'n'linc]

Yesterday afternoon my eldest stepped on a screw, I have absolutely no idea why that particular piece of wood was still in the yard as I remember throwing ALL the bits from their old sandpit onto the trailer ages ago (gggrrr! I suppose the kids must have pulled it back out to play with it and hidden it somewhere).

Anyway, I was out for all of 30mins buying bread and some salad for dinner and I came home to blood all over the front patio and my son sitting on the couch, foot resting on the frozen peas, still crying
His foot didn't bleed for long (the patio was a mess though LOL), it had stopped bleeding by the time I got back, so there was no need to take him to get stitches...but after he was in bed last night I started to wonder if I should have taken him for a tetanus shot.

So, if anyone knows or has any experience with this please help!

Oh, and the piece of wood/screw has been out in the yard for about 12mths now (that makes it sound like we don't tidy the yard, doesn't it? we do, but the kids are good at hiding things where we wont easily find them LOL), as well as the time it spent as part of the kids sandpit...if that makes any difference.

[Tesseract]

Yeah when it comes to rust I would definitely take him to the doc to find out if you need one.

[*Spikey*]

It depends on whether his tetanus shots are up to date or not. Check his Blue Book and work out when his booster is due, then contact your GP.

(And thanks for reminding me, I need to get a booster sometime next year)

[Therese]

I would definitely take him to the doctor.

[countrymel]

If his tetanus is up to date he'll be ok.

If not HELL YEAH!


I impaled myself last summer and nipped down to get a tetanus shot (mine had lapsed) and was surprised as to the fuss the staff at the medical centre went to... I think they spent a good 1/2 hour or more cleaning the tiny puncture wound.

I had two nurses, then two doctors come in and check it and I had to return a week later to have it checked again!

When I mentioned to the nurse that if I hadn't needed a tetanus shot I probably would have left it un touched she was horrified!

[Cranky Kitten]

I'd check with your GP or ring health direct.

[JRA]

I would certainly check. I cut my finger badly a few weeks ago and got a shot, which made me think about DS., I think after they have the 4th tetanus shot at the 4yo immunisations they don't need it again until their teens.

Is this your oldest son - 8yo? He may not need one if he has had all his immunisations, but I certainly would check.

I would certainly check. I cut my finger badly a few weeks ago and got a shot, which made me think about DS., I think after they have the 4th tetanus shot at the 4yo immunisations they don't need it again until their teens.

Is this your oldest son - 8yo? He may not need one if he has had all his immunisations, but I certainly would check.

[Sassy Girl]

I stepped on a thumb tack earlier this year. My friend, who is a doctor, said to make sure I go and see my GP within 72 hours. It had been about 20 years since I'd last had a tetanus shot as I am petrified of immunisation/immunotherapy.

The GP gave me a tetanus shot. He said you should have a tetanus shot each time something like that happens not just if your tetanus shots aren't up to date

[caesie'n'linc]

He had the DTPa shots as a bub, the last one was at 4yrs old, he's almost 10 now.

There's no other booster shots listed in his book at all. How often are boosters needed?

The screw wasn't rusty, but it has been out in the yard through all the rain/storms/minor flooding our yard gets when it rains.

I guess I should have a shower and take him to the drs then...he's currently hopping around the house giggling and chasing his sister LOL

[CountryBumpkin]

I believe tetanus can't survive where there is oxygen. And I thought I read somewhere tetanus isn't from rust, it's from faeces? And you need the booster before, it won't prevent if it's already in the body.