Firefighters cut woman's stuck wedding ring off as her finger began to turn blue (2024)

FAQs

Will the fire department cut a ring off my finger? ›

Boling said you can either go to your local fire station or emergency room. "A lot of times they'll have an instrument that can cut the ring off," Dr. Boling said.

Every station has this ring cutter, Fire-Rescue Capt. Kevin Saxton said. “It's a very real possibility that someone who injures their hand is to going to need a ring cutter,” he said.

Complications can occur, some benign, and some serious. Some of the dangers or a ring that is too tight is cutting off the blood circulation, and not allowing the skin to breathe. In most severe cases the ring has to be removed – and if it's not a silicone ring, perhaps even cut off by a doctor.

Start by applying Windex (yes, Windex), soap, lotion, or another lubricant to make your finger slippery. Then, gently rock the ring back and forth (rather than twisting it) as you work it over your knuckle. Reapply the Windex or lubricant as necessary.

The Compression Device gives firefighters and EMTs a safe and effective solution for stuck ring removal. It's Ring Rescue CD + You = Success. The device shrinks the finger 100% of the time and then manipulation techniques are used to remove the ring non-destructively.

If the finger or fingertip is entirely severed

If a person has lost a large portion of their finger, a surgeon may decide to reattach the amputated part. Replantation is a complex surgical procedure that involves repairing the blood vessels to allow proper blood flow to and from the severed part.

If it needs to be cut off, a jeweler can do it with the least damage to the ring and repair and resize it too.

A simple resize costs from $20 to $60, depending on the type of metal and region of the country. For a more complex resizing, the cost ranges from $50 to $150. Regardless of the design, making a ring larger will always cost more.

If these strategies do not work, know that the ring can be cut off with a ring cutter by a jeweler, by a local EMT or fire department, or at the emergency room. If you have any questions about hand or upper extremity pain or injuries, schedule an appointment with one of our occupational/hand therapists!

A specialty tool called a ring cutter can cut the ring without damaging your finger. Most jewelers, fire departments, and emergency rooms have a ring cutter.

Who can cut a wedding ring off a finger? ›

If you're in pain or the ring is stuck due to injury, head to your doctor first. After your doctor says it's okay to remove the ring (or if you don't need medical help at all), call your jeweler. They will know how to cut in a way that will hopefully save the ring from any further damage.

In emergency situations where a ring needs to be removed immediately because it is too swollen, crushed or burned, hospitals use ring cutter tools like this, which are similar to can openers.