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Original poster

A&e for a scald? What will happen?

43 replies

Ouchthathurt12345 · 01/09/2025 09:15

Hi, feel like a complete idiot here. I was trying to fill up a hot water bottle and I was half asleep and my hand accidentally slipped with the weight of the kettle and the boiling water went completely down my front. It’s mostly on my tummy, front of my pelvic area and genitals, upper and lower legs and foot. It’s sort of splashed everywhere down my front. Needless to say it was agony, I put cold water from the shower on it but it’s still throbbing and I actually threw up (I think mainly just from the adrenaline and shock of it all tbh).

the nhs website says a&e for burns bigger than your hand, I’m assuming that includes scalds too? It’s difficult to work out how big it is because the water basically waterfalled down my front so it’s all quite spread out but I’m guessing it’s maybe 3/4 hand sizes if it was all put together

im going to head over to a&e to get checked, im on the way now, but just a bit worried as I’ve never had this before and have absolutely no idea what to expect. What will they do at a&e for a scald? I’ve only ever had tiny tiny burns from the oven etc which didn’t need medical treatment so this is completely unknown to me. I’m assuming it’ll be a long wait because it’s not life threatening and I don’t know if its a bit of overkill to go to a&e for a scald when I could just put burn stuff from the pharmacy on it myself at home?

honestly could burst into tears this has happened, it was absolutely agony

OP posts:
StripyShirt · 01/09/2025 17:04

Funsummerfun · 01/09/2025 09:21

Ouch!! Do you have a minor injuries unit nearby? I think they can treat burns and scalds and you may be seen there more quickly.

I did this for a scald on my hand, leaving it until the morning after. I thought I was being over-cautious, but over the next day or two it turned into a huge blister that really needed treatment - if I'd left it, it would have been quite nasty.

LIZS · 01/09/2025 16:37

You need treatment asap, so a and e I’m afraid.

TeaMeBasil · 01/09/2025 14:24

Oh poor you - I did exactly the same back in January but it went all over my hand. So painful and also had to go to a&e due to the size of it.

Definitely the right thing to do, they were great & sorted me out. I had a check up appointment a few days after and they showed me how to change the dressing so I could get on with it myself. Pain in the arse trying to keep it dry while it healed but it did and now I just have a bit of a shadow there rather than a scar and expect that will fade in time! Good luck xx

Mulledjuice · 01/09/2025 13:43

I think it's really easy to underestimate burns - sounds like you were in shock too. Glad you've been seen.

IfHeWantedToHeWould · 01/09/2025 13:41

Unfortunately it could be serious due to where your injury is and the extent of it.

DancefloorAcrobatics · 01/09/2025 10:36

Glad you went A&E - that sounds like a serious burn and definitely needs attention.

Hopefully the specialist will be with you soon and you get the right treatment. 💐

Frostynoman · 01/09/2025 10:30

Pain is good in this instance. Sorry you’re going through it op!

MidnightPatrol · 01/09/2025 10:29

I’d go to a walk in centre if you have one,
you may be seen quicker.

I had some quite sizeable burns which I got treated >24h after it happened, and they basically put some kind of cream and then a plastic wrap over them to help healing and limit the risk of infection.

It gave me peace of mind. Sorry to hear OP it’s so uncomfortable…!

Original poster
Ouchthathurt12345 · 01/09/2025 10:28

BMW6 · 01/09/2025 10:00

Ah I see. Well I expect your period pains have stopped (or are no longer noticeable)!

Poor you Flowers

Oh gosh absolutely, suddenly that pain is the least of my concerns!

i would have gone to minor injuries but there aren’t any in our area unfortunately,

not too sure what’s happening, they said something about getting a specialist doctors opinion because it’s quite big and my blood pressure was really low when they triaged me but not sure how long it’ll take, they seemed quite concerned about it and I’m in a cubicle already so I’m glad I’ve come to get it checked, just anxious and its really bloody painful

OP posts:
UnhappyHobbit · 01/09/2025 10:22

I scalding my foot once and I was also a bit sceptical about going to a&e. I do recommend it though as they dressed it much better than I would have done and I was given good after care advice

BMW6 · 01/09/2025 10:00

Ah I see. Well I expect your period pains have stopped (or are no longer noticeable)!

Poor you Flowers

Original poster
Ouchthathurt12345 · 01/09/2025 09:46

BMW6 · 01/09/2025 09:19

When did this happen? 😳 and where are you that you need a hot water bottle??

A couple of hours ago. I’m in the UK. It was for a sore stomach from period pain!

OP posts:
Funsummerfun · 01/09/2025 09:21

Ouch!! Do you have a minor injuries unit nearby? I think they can treat burns and scalds and you may be seen there more quickly.

IfHeWantedToHeWould · 01/09/2025 09:20

As someone who worked in burns, you did first aid that’s good. Yes please go to a&e.

Do not put anything on it!

Other than if there are any areas you can wrap in clingfilm.

A&e will clean and dress it and then if you need further treatment they’ll go from there. Hot water bottle burns are very common.

Twistedfirestarters · 01/09/2025 09:19

God bless you. You're absolutely right to go. They will dress it for you and possibly give you a tetanus. I spilt boiling sugar on my hand and that's what they did. They have proper burns dressings. I then had a follow up appointment in the burns department to check it was healing.

Myfridgeiscool · 01/09/2025 09:19

Going to A&E sounds like the right thing to do. They’ll make sure it’s clean and dress it.
It's an accident, don’t feel like an idiot.

BMW6 · 01/09/2025 09:19

When did this happen? 😳 and where are you that you need a hot water bottle??

Bakingwithmyboys · 01/09/2025 09:17

They will wrap it up mainly. They don't particularly like to put anything on it but will obviously check out the damage and make sure there is nothing else going on.

I scalded my hand and foot at work a few years ago. Was seen really quickly and sent on my way. Was definitely more comfortable after seeing them though.

Good luck!