Burnt hand, NHS website says A+E?!

[Broceliande]

Apologies for blunt posting style as am typing with wrong hand.

2 hours ago I burnt back of three fingers on the bottom of a pan I'd put in dishwasher, not realising it had just been on the heat. Have been sat with bag of peas of since and it is excruciating when I take it off. Three blisters have come up. Have put on honey and (in a sense of cling cling) plasters. Have never burned self before so was looking on NHS website for advice and it says to go to a and e if there are blisters on hands. This seems like a huge overreaction (although it bloody hurts to extent I can't stand to take the ice off!) so just wanted to see if any nurses were reading this who can tell me why this is / reassure me my fingers won't fall off in the night!

Hands are a really dangerous place to burn (have had skin graphs on hands).

It is up to the joint on one finger, it is bigger than 50p and it is on a hand so yes it does need to be seen tonight in A and E or a Burns Unit. Cover with clingfilm and go, no ice, no honey. They will dress it properly and review as it will get worse over the next 48 hours.

If you are in a big City go to the A and E where your burns unit is - they will usually see you in a separate stream to other A and E patients.

Here is a list of burns units:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_burn_centres_in_the_United_Kingdom

I'm not sure how much they can do in a and e for that burn though - I had this after a couple days which in the end they did burst for me but I'm not sure they will burst those ones? Hope you feel better soon I know how much they can hurt!!

Here's the NHS current advice.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/. Get it properly assessed.

I suggest the self-declared first aiders on the thread also update their knowledge.

Honey has been used since ancient times for its healing properties. Medical grade honey is still used today but it's been sterilised, unlike the stuff in the cupboard.

www.sciencefocus.com/science/can-you-use-honey-to-treat-a-burn/

Hope you went to see about it OP? If it's still agony after two hours I'd say you need some help with that.

Just returning to confirm that I did indeed survive the night, and fell asleep as soon as the pain receded.

Thank you everyone for the advice last night - the bowl of cold water did calm it down and although fingers are still blistered this morning they are not huge blisters. I didn't go to a and e last night (I don't drive, kids were asleep and DH had had a couple of drinks) but am calling GP now for advice as I thought they might be able to dress it there if necessary.

Glad you are doing ok.
Hope it's been beautifully dressed for you...

Still not too late to put lavender oil on it

Wilkes , savers stock it
I’ve had some terrible scalds in my lifetime but no scars because of lavender oil
I had a pot of boiling hot water poured over my lap.
Didn’t even blister..ice and as much lavender oil as I could get into it
Miracle stuff

@marnieja that looks extremely painful, you poor thing.

Do not put anything oily on a burn - it fries!!

I once burned myself and phoned 111 as that was the advice I got on the NHS site. They wanted to send an ambulance!!!! I put them off that and husband drove me. I was triaged and sent home before my husband had even parked the car and joined me in the a&e department. I think the NHS advice around hands and feet and burns is super cautious. No lasting damage thankfully. On another occasion I did burn my hand quite badly and did have to be seen at minor injuries, and subsequently by a GP to have the blisters drained. That one scarred quite badly for a few years.

How is it feeling now op? Did you go to get it dressed?

To be honest I wouldn't have done much with the OPs burn other than running cold water and kicked myself. Couldn't imagine even considering A&E. But that's just me. If you think it needs seen then get it seen.