Quebec Coroner Jacques Ramsay issued a recommendation following the death of a 43-year-old man. The cause of death was complication from an ear infection that could have been caused by the use of Qtips.

 

The cotton swabs' packages already have a warning recommending not to use the product in the external canal of the ear.

 

To avoid a  perforation of the eardrum when cleaning the ears, parents should not use cotton swabs and should teach their children not to use cotton swabs. You can clean the ears with a humid towel instead.