Don’t Touch – HOT !
Don’t touch – HOT ! How many of you remember either saying that to a child, about to touch the stove or hearing your mother say it to you. I remember telling my son not to touch the popcorn popper after which he immediately stuck his hand on it. Not dumb – just wanted to know what “hot” felt like. He found out quickly.
As adults we know “hot”. But as Tom found out two nights ago, knowing and acting appropriately doesn’t always connect as quickly as it should. The result of picking up a skillet just removed from the 350 degree oven was a 2nd degree burn to his palm and fingers. Again, not dumb. Just not paying attention. Distracted by too many things taking place in the kitchen. Trying to help get a very late dinner on the table.
We’ve all done it. Reached across a steaming pan of water, spilled coffee, made the bath water too hot, stayed in the sun too long. The results are the same: a burn and unrelenting pain for a few hours. Hopefully ,at the worst, a mild second degree burn from which you will recover and the skin will stay intact.
Our skin consists of three layers: the Epidermis – outer layer with nerve endings Only this layer can regenerate. ; Dermis the underlying layer that contains nerves,blood vessels,and hair follicles; Hypodermis- the lowest layer containing larger blood vessels and nerves. Skin is important in regulating body temperature and fluid loss. Disruption of the skin barrier by a burn can cause serious problems. Deep burns, because the layers cannot regrow, cause scarring.
Burns are categorized in three types:
1st degree – mild reddening of the skin, discomfort or stinging pain, burn surface is dry.
2nd degree – reddening with possible blistering, burn surface feels moist, sensation still intact (which is why it is so painful), more painful than 1st degree.
3rd degree – tissue appears white, no sensation, dead.
Knowing first aid treatment of a burn is essential to minimize injury to the tissue. Remove any clothing covering the area immediately. It clothing has melted or is stuck in the wound tissue cut the clothing around the area. Initially place the burned area under cool/cold running water for 10-15 minutes or apply cold compresses. If you use ice use it sparingly, removing it every 10 minutes for a few minutes to let the tissue rewarm. Keep the ice moving over the skin surface and do not hold in one place to prevent freezing the area.
Clean the burn gently with soap and water. Dry the burned area and cover loosely for comfort and protection, with gauze wrap. You can apply an aloe gel or burn cream but never butter, lard, or a greasy ointment. If blisters have formed do NOT break them. The blisters contain a fluid that will help protect and heal the underlying surface. Gradually, over the next few days the fluid will reabsorb. Leave open to the area as soon as tolerable. Take Advil, Motrin or Aleve for pain. The bottom line is IT’S GOING TO HURT and not much relieves the pain other than time. If there is redness, broken skin or pain that lasts longer than a few hours consult your doctor or ER for treatment.
What I learned from our burn episode Wednesday night is that our house is not equipped to deal efficiently with emergencies. My aloe plant died, our First Aid kit was non-existent, and there was no Motrin or Tylenol in the house. Fortunately we had running water and plenty of ice. My shopping list today includes all of the above.
Tomorrow’s blog with contain information about emergency and disaster preparedness with lists of items every home should have to treat every thing from scrapes and bruises to handling major disasters. Are you prepared?
Think about it.