Pencil Jabbers

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Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

So, it appears a real problem at my school is the breaking off of a sharp pencil lead under the skin. Particularly in 4th grade. Weird.

Does this happen at your school and how do you handle/treat it?

I know several adults that have pencil lead (graphite, actually...it's not actual lead in pencils) in their skin leftover from school days. They had no after-effects and they are still alive and active, functioning members of society. Our school principal is one and my hubby is another.

But my kids act as though it's the end of the world and they want that pencil lead out NOW. So far every lead has been so deep under the skin that it would require minor surgery in the clinic for me to remove so I've had to call mama who either does or does not take them to the doctor. I'm sure there is a risk for infection leaving it in there.

The kid that broke his pencil off in the pad of his hand this week really wigged out on me...hyperventilating, crying, making such a big deal that he had to lie down on the cot in order for me to even take a look at it. Then getting even more worked up at the idea of having to go to the doctor!

Anyway, I'm wondering if you all see these pencil jabbers or if this is a special skill set at my school.

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Specializes in kids.

the good news being it is only graphite....at least we are not dealing with lead poisoning!

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Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

Yes, that is always the kid's first panicky comment. "Get this out! I'm gonna get lead poisoning!!!"

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my thought would be, they put it there they can get it out. later, back to class, now.

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Brings back memory of my mom telling me a story about when she was in class (back in the lead days I believe), a student just randomly stabbed her in the thigh with his pencil. The tip is still in there to this day (60 years later) but no long lasting effects.

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It is often not even a piece of graphite itself, it is a tatoo from graphite that stays behind. I clean it,put a band-aid on it and send them back to class.

Most of the hoopla stems from the teacher because they freak out and are misinformed about it not actually being lead.

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It is often not even a piece of graphite itself, it is a tatoo from graphite that stays behind. I clean it,put a band-aid on it and send them back to class.

Most of the hoopla stems from the teacher because they freak out and are misinformed about it not actually being lead.

I begged mom for a tattoo when I was 16. Shoulda just stabbed myself with a pencil ;)

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