Anyone grabbed a scalding hot pot handle? Help!

[JimandPam]

Help, posting for traffic…

2 hours ago I carefully used an oven mit to take a frying pan out of the oven. Seconds later I had a brain fart and went to pick it up minus the glove

We made the mistake of first going for ice but have since had my hand submerged (and moving about) in a large bowl of lukewarm water

its been 2 hours now and every time I either stop swishing my hand or take it out I’m in AGONY and tears

i can’t see blisters al though my hand is shrivelled from the water! But I have white spots across my palm and up my fingers

Anyone else made this stupid mistake and have advice? I don’t know how I’m going to sleep!

Vaseline? Cling film? Leave to air? Help!

i've done that

take some aspirin or paracetomol to take the edge off the pain.
keep it in cool water as much as possible
if you can't keep it in water overnight, put a very gentle moisturizer on to keep it damp (aloe vera is good) then cover in cling film. wrap in 1 layer of fabric (t-shirt etc) and then grip an ice pack to keep it both cool and damp and clean. and try to sleep.

@Loadedbydeath

I wasn't doubting it worked for you, just thought sensible to share current advice in case other people aren't aware as it can cause further damage using ice. It won't always, obviously, but is an increased risk so not worth taking IMO 🤷🏻‍♀️

Chef here. Done this more times than I can remember and yes it hurts so much. Keep your hand in a bowl of cold water. A cold wet towel with a plastic bag rou it when you go to bed. Painkillers.

Not honey or Lavender oil! Just cold/cool water. Although if you're still in agony when you take it out then maybe A&E. But it will be hard to keep it cool during the inevitable long wait... and I'm not sure what they'll actually do if it's not blistered/damaged.

It can take hours to cool down. I think I'd be inclined to wait until the morning. I have slept with my hand in cool water overnight before (arm dangled over the edge of the bed!), or if you have sports ice packs you could bring one of them up to a more sensible temp than freezing (leave it out, or run under a tap for a bit) and put that on your hand.

I had a nasty burn years ago on my tummy. Cold running water for 30mins. Has to be running water otherwise the heat creates a bubble and keeps cooking the skin. Then poured honey all over the burn. It's antibacterial and wrapped in cling film to prevent infection. I was a teenager at the time and my mum called an ambulance. They actually had a roll of cling film in the ambulances for this exact use. Everything above approved by the paramedics at the time but don't know if advice has now changed

I have. I took a cast iron casserole from the oven, took it to the table whilst wearing an oven glove, went to take the lid off but without the glove. I held my hand under running cold water but every time I took it out the pain came back so bad. I went to sleep that night with my hand in a bowl of really cold water and when I woke up my hand wasn't as bad. I think the gradual warming of the water helped stop the extreme pain I felt when having my hand in cold water and then taking it out.
I now, when taking a dish that's come out of the oven which has a lid, put the oven mitt on top as a visual reminder.

Thanks so much to everyone who has replied. I really appreciate all the advice! I am on hour three of holding my hand in a bowl of water, and every time my hand stops moving or I take it out, I am in agony and tears!

I appreciate a number of people have suggested going to A&E. But I'm on my own with two toddlers and no one I can call this evening. DH has gone to work. I'm also wary of wasting anyone's time and I still have no blisters, just lots of white spots along my palm and fingers.

I honestly cannot believe the pain. I've taken a good dose of strong painkillers and it's still searingly hot when I take my hand out of the water. I think I will do as a few have suggested and try and keep my hand in water overnight or hold something cool and wrap my hand in clingfilm.

I'll reassess in the morning and I think if it's still this bad I will have to take a trip to the hospital

For those commenting on ice, apparently it can cause ice burn and increase the pain significantly. Luke warm water is apparently best but I went straight for the freezer! 🤦🏻‍♀️

It really needsto be cold running water to keep,it.cold and take the heat out

Don't cover it or put any on it at all

It will blister more than likely don't pop the blisters ! Keep it clean .

Do not wrap in clingfilm all that will do is keep the heat from escaping , you'll be effectively insulating your hand

It needs to be under cold running water for at least t 20 mins

Thanks

I did do an initial 20 mins under cold running water but can't really keep that going for 3 hours so have resorted to a big bowl I'm refreshing.

I'll try just clutching a cool pack and leave the cling film!

I did something similar a few years ago and went to bed lying on my front with my hand dangling down into a large saucepan full of cold water. It might be worth a try.

Hope you get through the night without too much pain.

On similar threads to this I've seen many people recommend a Burn Plaster - it's a specific type of plaster that apparently slightly cools (a cooling sensation I guess) and also protest and helps the healing process. I only mentioned it because you say your DH is out at work - could he go by a late night chemist on way home (sorry of course he may be on nightshift) and maybe they could advise? This is a random site - not recommending it particularly but just because it describes what they are:

HypaPlast Burn Plasters, Pack of 10 (Assorted) | Burn Dressings | Safety First Aid

Have you a bandage or large plasters? Sometimes stopping the air getting to a burn can alleviate the pain. Dress it quite tightl, kind of pressing the skin (obviously not the sticky parts of the plasters). Take a couple of ibuprofen for the inflamation

Really you need a hospital. You may not see blisters yet as your hands will be shrivelled. Cool RUNNING water min 20 minutes to cool the burn

You really should go to A&E with those symptoms. Your DH needs to come back from work. Please don't think you are wasting anyone's time.

You need to go to at least minor injuries and have it looked at. Your husband will need to come home from work. This is very serious and you could end up losing sensation in your palm, or an infection. Don't just clutch a cool pack!! Don't assume that ice numbing it is helping! It numbs the pain but could actually do more damage. Please take this seriously. Go to minor injuries or A&E right now.

Thanks so much to everyone for their concern

I've managed to take my hand out of the cold water and had teary 30 mins as it acclimatised but it's now a throbbing pain rather than searing

I have taken some painkillers left over from surgery I had last month though!

It honestly looks like there's nothing there. There are some shrivelled marks where I think a blister may have appeared had I not kept it in water.

I'll post a photo as you'd be hard pressed to see there's anything wrong really!

I promise if it's still this painful in the morning or blisteredI will go to a&e or minor injuries

Consensus is to leave it uncovered and not put anything on it overnight?

Looks like nothing!

Ouch, sympathies OP as I've done the same thing myself and it hurts! I alternated between cool water and one of those gel ice pack things wrapped in a muslin cloth - goodness knows how but it didn't blister. It did take a looong time to cool down though... If you're using ice or an ice pack, just don't put it directly on your skin otherwise you'll end up with an ice burn as well as a heat burn!!!

That looks like mine did! I sent a picture to my nurse friend and she asked me where it was! Bloody hurt like hell.

You can buy wet burns dressings from the pharmacy. They really help with the pain and healing.

@XpelairHamPortal I know! I've just sent a photo to DH who jokingly asked what all the fuss was about!

It's honestly the most intense searing pain I think I've ever experienced and I've nothing to show for it!

I think I'm going to keep the painkillers up and reassess in the morning

Thank you. And to the other poster who mentioned this. I will try and get some tomorrow if I can

I did running water for 4 hours. Still landed up at a&e where they kindly let me continue the running water while I waited for a doctor. He thought I would have nerve damage but actually, the running water did the trick and I was OK. It did get bandaged with some anti bacterial cream (I think) at A&E.

Sounds like you have done the right thing.

The nurse who changed my dressing for me the next day told.me the running water is to prevent further damage and the excessive pain is actually a good sign that the nerves are still functioning.

Ouch, I feel your pain.
I’ve been there. Cooking tea, I missed the colander and poured a scolding hot pan of new potatoes onto the back of my hand. I literally slept that night with my hand in a bucket of cold water - my hand dangling over the bed submerged in the bucket.

I really should have gone to a&e but couldn’t take my hand out of the water for more than a minute before the pain hit.
A huge yellow blister developed next day. DH went to the chemist for dressings. On his advice we kept it covered and clean and I took painkillers.
Hope it feels better in the morning 💐