First aid question (bad burn)

[DemoTex]

I just burned the palm of my right hand on the firebox handle of my cooker. It is one of those stainless steel spring things that stays cool. Except I propped the top lid of the firebox open a few inches while the fire got going good because it is raining. I went out and grabbed the spring handle to open the firebox. The handle was just short of red hot.

I immediately grabbed a handful of ice cubes. I now have ice cubes wrapped in a wash cloth in my hand. A number of blisters have appeared (2nd degree burn). I am typing and mousing with my left hand (I am right-handed). It hurts like bloody hell. Cheney! How could I have been so careless?

Any other first aid suggestions? I will probably just read the suggestions. Typing is too tough.

Thanks

[rucky]

1. butter n/t

[RC]

6. NEVER!

butter is an insulter and holds the heat in. Makes the burn worse. The faster you can cool the burn area down, the better.

[rucky]

10. I knew I learned something about butter in first aid class

forgot if it was good or bad for burns.

then I thought, "there are lotsa bad things to put on a burn, so why would they even mention butter? - so it must be good."

ooooops.

that'll teach me to give medical advice.

addition: that'll teach Mr. Burns to ask DU for medical advice.

[RC]

2. You done good.

If you can get ice on a burn in time it won't blister.

Ice first. Get it cooled off. Then look around to figure out what to do next.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Oy vey iz mir!

Go to the hospital and get it treated. Leaving it untreated makes it even worse!

Hawkeye-X

[notadmblnd]

4. I alway run the burn over cold water until the sting is gone

if the skin is pealed off then you want to get antibiotic ointment and wrap in gauze.

[fishnfla]

7. this one this one this one

do it

[CO Liberal]

5. Vitamin E

Get some Vitamin E gelcaps. Break them between your thumb and forefinger, and smear it on the burn area.

[Love Bug]

8. You might want to go to urgent care

This sounds like a bad burn-- you don't want an infection. DO NOT put butter on it--that's an old wive's tale. Cold compressess should be applied until you are seen by a professional.

[Nite Owl]

9. If you have or can get an Aloe

plant open a leaf and put the goo on. It really works. Vitamin E with it to help healing.

[DemoTex]

11. Thanks. A neighbor who is a RN is on her way over.

She is bringing aloe.

[gumby]

12. silvadene

Call your doctor and get him to call a prescription to your local pharmacy. This stuff works wonders.

[Syncronaut Seven]

14. Silver Sulfadiazine

By prescription only, not for use if you're allergic to sulfa based drugs.

I use it when ever I get a new tiger stripe.

[DS1]

29. Amen, wipe the pain away

[punpirate]

13. As most everyone says...

... get it cooled down, but don't let the skin freeze--just adds insult to injury. Once cool and stable, I use a mixture of aloe vera and liquid vitamin E (pierce a capsule and squeeze it on). Minimizes more blistering, and minimizes scarring. I did it with some charred burns on my fingers (don't ask) and there were no scars. Vitamin E also helps with the pain.

[Don_G]

15. Good Thinking

Ice helps reduce the swelling.

Keep it clean above all. Use Vitamin E, Aloe and/or Neosporin when indicated.

Debride the burned areas when the healing process starts to get rid of the dead tissue.

Keep ie on it for now until you have a professional look at it.

Good luck.

[put out]

16. No ice, no butter

Please, ice can cause further tissue damage. Lots and lots of cool water. Don't pop the blisters. Antibiotic cream and a non-stick dressing. Aloe and Vitamin E have not been proven, as far as I've learned. Anything the aloe plant has been contaminated with may do harm if your skin is broken.

Oh, ouch. I'm sorry, burns hurt so much.

[RC]

20. Not likely

The cool water out of the tap can be 60+ degrees. Not cool enough to work. All you need is to ice it for a few minutes to draw the heat out of the underlying tissue. It is not likey to cause any damage.

[XanaDUer]

17. Run it under cool tap water until the nurse gets there.

You may need to see a doc in case of infection, though.

[trof]

18. Miz t. sez:

(That'd be Miz t., the Cajun Witchy Woman and Herbal Healer)
She seconds aloe vera.
Good luck, bub.

[Leilani]

19. This happened to me about a year ago

Ice, Ice, Ice

Then try to get silvadene....I had to go to urgent care.

Then Ibupropen for pain...it works as healer.

Good luck!

If the pain is awful, go to urgent care.

[Shakespeare]

21. Ice is good, and aloe helps, too....

I had a similar burn about a year ago (still sporting a barely-noticeable scar, too, unfortunately).

Keep ice or cold water on it as much as possible initially, and slather the "ooze" of an aloe plant on it if you can--and KEEP IT COVERED. Keep it bandaged, and also apply antibiotic ointment. The bandages will be a pain to deal with over the coming days, but you don't want to risk infection (and it'll heal faster if you keep it covered w/antibiotic ointment on it).

[DemoTex]

22. Nurse Nan just left

She said it looks like a mild 2nd degree burn. She brought aloe. Nurse Nan didn't think I needed to drive into Brevard tonight (we are way out in the wilds). Tomorrow, maybe. She has recommended a physician.

Thanks for all the advice. Now, about those hemorrhoids ...

[Ready4Change]

24. About those... :)

Salsa! Lots of salsa. Burns 'em right outta there!

[leftyandproud]

23. DO THIS!!

Three extra strength tylenol and a coke...every 4-5 hours take another tylenol...this should kill much of the pain. It won't cure you...only time can heal it. I've found when I get burned, the only way to sleep is to get a big container of ice water and leave my hand in it while in bed.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

30. Mac... the Doctor concurrs... you have done very well

and this will help too.

Substitute Advil or Aspirin if you want, they are all about the same.

[DemoTex]

25. At two and a half hours later, the pain is gone.

I gripped the ice-rag and did the aloe. I have very linear blisters on my fingers and palm. I'll watch that like a hawk. My all-Prokofiev piano concert at Carnegie Hall for the weekend has been canceled. Sorry about that all you ticket holders.

[lazarus]

26. Glad it's improving

I used to burn myself all the time, back when I worked in the food industry.

I eventually got to the point of just ignoring it until I got home, then I'd slather aloe on it and go to bed.

[DemoTex]

27. At 9 pm, the blisters are bad. But the pain is gone.

Amazing. Thanks for the advice and support.

[librechik]

28. Mac: ask the nurse or pharmacist to get you a big Gel Bandage

they have them at Walgreen's sometimes--the gel is very cooling and helps the blisters heal without bursting them. They are expensive (like $5 per) but they are worth it. (not the Duoderm, which is good for later, after you're better, the one I'm talking about has clear gel under a stretchy bandage. I can't remember what we called it in the ER but it's great for burns)


Also:
This is a bit odd, but I have also had great success with the direct application of DMSO, the 99.9 % solution. You can get it at the animal feed story down in those parts. The chemical in the DMSO sucks the fluid out of the blister (you can actually feel the evaporating humidity over the wound if you are very sensitive) This leads to a reduction in swelling which causes a reeduction in pain.

I LOVE DMSO and use it frequently, but some people are a bit :tinfoilhat:ish about it, so I offer you the usual disclaimer ("hey, I heard it on the internet!") Kids, don't try this at home! etc

[DemoTex]

31. I haven't heard of DMSO in years!

Thanks for the advice on the gel bandage. My pain is totally gone now. Go figure. My hand looks like a piece of raw chicken that has been on the hot grill for about 5 minutes. However, Nurse Nan was happy with the way the burn looked.

I am so pissed off at myself. I cannot afford to get hurt out here. I am alone in the woods (Dr. "D" is on the road, working in Dallas this week). My dogs cannot help me. But I do have good neighbors and a ham radio link to help when the phone and power are out.

[ironflange]

32. I've heard that it helps to pee on it

Never actually tried it, though.