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Original poster

Son burnt fingers

83 replies

JanetandJohn500 · 14/04/2020 17:40

My son was burning some papers for me. He is usually VERY sensible and has been allowed to burn things before (also sought neighbour approval before you all start going on 😂).
He managed to catch the fire pit with the tips of his fingers and now has blisters forming on the end of his fingers. He has been sitting with them in a bowl of cold water for about an hour. Is there anything else I should do?

OP posts:
Drogonssmile · 14/04/2020 20:04

I ironed my little finger on Sunday. Don't ask 🙄. And did as @BlankTimes suggested with the running water. That was what my gran taught me and it does work. Apart from a bit of shiny skin it's not painful or blistered today.

Drogonssmile · 14/04/2020 20:05

I meant with the bowl of water NOT running water.

BlankTimes · 14/04/2020 21:30

@NoClarification Great Minds eh? Grin
I've always wondered why it's not more widely known, too. I found out by experience. For me, it's the water which keeps the air off it that stops the pain and any skin damage.

Also, I was brought up in the age when you only went to the doctor if you had something seriously wrong with you and everything else was dealt with by Mum or Granny with whatever you had to hand in the kitchen. Like vinegar for wasp stings and a blue bag aka Dolly Blue for bee stings, the bicarb being the active ingredient in it. www.oldandinteresting.com/laundry-blue.aspx
Nowadays people seem to have little in the way of home first-aid knowledge or skills. I went to the chemist the other day and tried to buy a bottle of iodine and the pharmacist was summoned, looked haughtily down her nose at me and said 'We don't sell THAT' in the same tone as if I'd asked to buy a jar of rat-droppings.

Apologies for rambling.

However, back on topic, 111 said A+E so I hope the OP's son is seen soon and is treated and is not in pain.

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General health
Bouledeneige · 14/04/2020 21:38

Running cold water for several hours. Don't put any cream on - it's not advised and seals in heat. If they are bigger than a centimetre you need to go to a minor injury walk in centre - as it will need to be de-roofed (the blister taken off and it dressed).

MrsVMorgan · 14/04/2020 21:41

Hope the wait isn’t too long op :)

RiftGibbon · 14/04/2020 21:59

I managed to pick up a hot skewer last week (peri-menopause brain fog) and burned my thumb and index finger.
I ran both under cold water for about 15 minutes and then put neat lavender oil on.
I repeated the lavender application the next two days and there is no sign now that I was burned.

PurpleDaisies · 14/04/2020 22:01

Do not put oil on burns. Terrible advice.

RiftGibbon · 14/04/2020 22:07

It's pure essential oil not cooking oil. As a child my grandparents though putting Lars on burns would help. It didn't.

RiftGibbon · 14/04/2020 22:07

*Lard. I don't think Lars would help either.

PurpleDaisies · 14/04/2020 22:09

It’s still totally the wrong thing to do with a fresh burn @Rift. Please look at the NHS advice.

TitianaTitsling · 14/04/2020 22:42

Hope alls ok OP and you are seen and quickly home once treated.

Izzidigne · 14/04/2020 22:52

I have burnt my fingers twice. I slept with the finger on an ice lolly (still in the wrapper) each time. It stops the pain. Makes a huge difference.

PurpleDaisies · 14/04/2020 22:57

Don’t use ice on burns. That’s an easy way to cause more damage.

minmooch · 15/04/2020 08:07

How did your son get on at A&E @JanetandJohn500 ?

Original poster
JanetandJohn500 · 15/04/2020 08:59

All wrapped up and back for a dressing change on Thursday. I've seriously never considered that fingertip Burns could be so serious.... I'll know for future!
Thank you for the advice and reassurance on this thread.... apart from the vet comment 😂

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 15/04/2020 09:01

Glad it’s all sorted. Flowers

RiftGibbon · 15/04/2020 09:22

Appreciate the advice @Purple. Mine was a small burn and it was effective for me.

joystir59 · 15/04/2020 09:26

Take him to A&E and let the medical experts look at it. A&E will be quiet, and you have been advised not to avoid taking children to A&E

HarrySnotter · 15/04/2020 09:30

@JanetandJohn500 How old is your son? Glad it's sorted now.

MrsRaab · 15/04/2020 09:39

She obviously doesn't want to say how old her son is

bettybattenburg · 15/04/2020 09:45

I went to the chemist the other day and tried to buy a bottle of iodine and the pharmacist was summoned, looked haughtily down her nose at me and said 'We don't sell THAT' in the same tone as if I'd asked to buy a jar of rat-droppings.

Iodine seems to be out of favour here doesn't it? It's still used on the continent I believe, I had it used on some huge grazes when I fell down on a mountain, the first aid van medics insisted on it. I didn't go to the van, they saw it and made me go in Blush

PurpleDaisies · 15/04/2020 09:48

@RiftGibbon small burns usually heal without scarring. Regardless of the size, it is irresponsible to tell people to put oil on burns. It doesn’t matter whether it’s unicorn grade essential oil.

Original poster
JanetandJohn500 · 15/04/2020 09:50

@harrysnotter, he's 11 nearly 12.

OP posts:
WeBuiltCisCityOnSeeingSouls · 15/04/2020 10:26

I'm glad you got sorted Janet (and this will probably sound rude to you personally so apologies as it is meant in general)

Some of the advice here is shockingly bad. I would actually like to see "asking for emergency medical advice" threads deleted and replaced with a "call 111/999 message" along the lines MNHQ do for threads about suicide. (I don't want to sound insensitive in my wording). Or maybe just a MNHQ disclaimer saying the usual "seek RL advice we don't know about MNers medical credentials etc, call 111/999 (with the NHS wording about which is which and for what)"

I know (embarrassingly can't recall MNers name) that MNers pretty much saved the life of someone with sepsis the other week and I myself have probably got teething/temperature advice in the past but that was years ago and generally the site is so big nowadays.

I just feel some "medical" advice could actually be harmful (essential oil for burns!) and if threads aren't deleted, at least a disclaimer pointing to RL help might be useful.

PurpleDaisies · 15/04/2020 10:32

I’ve argued for that for ages @WeBuiltCisCityOnSeeingSouls

It’s frustrating seeing advice like that remain when it’s really harmful. There was an asthma one recently that was really bad.

Things I had seen posters advise putting on burns over the years...
Toothpaste
Oil of many varieties
Honey
Frozen peas
Butter
Turmeric
Yoghurt
Garlic
It’s as if they’re making a curry.

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