We get plenty of people presenting with rings stuck on their fingers. But not so many with watches stuck on their thumbs.

A two year old girl arrived the other day after getting her thumb well and goodly stuck in her mums metal watchband.
Mum had tried a large dolloping of margarine to lubricate the thumb, but had no luck in pulling it free. By the time she presented at the triage desk she was understandably distressed, the little girl on the other hand (or perhaps more accurately: the other thumb) was having a grand time showing everyone her shiny new jewelery.

The girls thumb had become quite swollen following mums extraction efforts, although it appeared well perfused and capillary refill remained brisk.
After an initial attempt of using a small wire cutter, which was far too industrial to safely access the tight fit between her thumb and the metal, we used one of our smaller ring cutters.
The ring cutter looks a little like a pair of pliers. On one arm it has a small curved, grooved, protective platform that slips under the ring, whilst the other holds a circular cutting blade. By applying pressure through the handles and turning a key attached to the cutting blade, it will usually slice through most rings. We also have an electric ring cutter, but most of us prefer the tactile feedback you get from going old school.

With a little distracting play therapy, the ring cutter slipped neatly into place and a few minutes later everyone was happy.

As is often the case when we get the combination of cute kid and unusual presentation, there were more medical staff crowded around the bed to offer encouragement / assistance / advice, than we have packed in around the bed during some of our multi-traumas.