If a patient has a shard of glass impaled in his cheek with minor bleeding and is alert, what should you do?

Carefully stabilizing the shard of glass while allowing the patient to suction his own mouth is the proper approach in this scenario. The rationale behind this choice lies in the potential risks associated with removing an object that is impaled in the body. In this case, the shard of glass could be causing minimal bleeding, and removing it could lead to more significant bleeding or further injury to underlying tissues or vessels.

By stabilizing the shard, you help prevent it from shifting and causing more damage while simultaneously addressing any concerns the patient may have with blood or debris in their mouth. Allowing the patient to suction their own mouth ensures they can manage their immediate comfort while maintaining control over their airway, which is crucial since the glass is in the vicinity of the oral cavity.

This method emphasizes a careful and conservative approach, prioritizing patient safety and minimizing complications, instead of hastily attempting to remove the shard or manipulate it in ways that could exacerbate the injury.