[NatureNS] Taking the sting out of the sting

From: "Paul S. Boyer" <psboyer@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 10:14:35 -0400
References: <KGEBLAIFBKJFJMJFLCKPCEAOFMAA.dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca>
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Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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Putting baking soda on a burn is probably a bad idea, because the =20
baking soda tends to dry the burn.  What one wants is to protect =20
against desiccation, and keep the burn moist.

The worst thing (so doctors have told me) is the traditional remedy of =20=

treating the burn with oily substances, such as butter or vaseline.  =20
Those retard healing, and must somehow be cleaned off with soap or =20
something similar, which is painful and may cause further damage.  Wet =20=

compresses are good.

The best immediate first aid for a small burn is ice.  That is because =20=

the site of the burn is still undergoing damage as long as it is =20
warm.  Ice should be applied immediately =97 preferably within a =20
second.  That is possible in a kitchen setting, or somewhere where ice =20=

is readily available.  If at a barbeque, run for the cooler chest =20
where the beer is kept.  Don't even delay to scream and fuss, or to =20
examine the burn to see how bad it is: just get to the ice as soon as =20=

possible, pushing everyone and everything out of the way if you must.  =20=

I am convinced that people often look at the burn, and wait to see how =20=

much it will hurt: that's a big mistake.

If the rest of your body is at normal temperature, and the air =20
temperature is above freezing, application of ice to skin cannot cause =20=

damage by freezing, because the melting point of the ice (0 =B0C) is not =
=20
cold enough to freeze tissue.

I have had enough dumb accidents in the kitchen to learn the routine.  =20=

I go directly to the 'fridge, open the freezer, and shove the burned =20
hand (for such it usually is) right into the ice bin, the faster the =20
better.  For this action, I now have my time down to about three =20
seconds.

If ice is not available, use water: but is it nowhere near as =20
effective as ice.

=97 Paul Boyer


On 26 May 2009, at 9:03 AM, David&Jane Schlosberg wrote:

> When I was a child, my Mother used to put baking soda on burns.  I =20
> always thought it worked, but I think I've since read that this is =20
> not a good idea.  As a kid, I was fascinated by the texture and =20
> flaking of the soda.  Perhaps it just diverted my mind--always a =20
> good remedy for any pain.
> Jane


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Putting baking soda on a burn =
is probably a bad idea, because the baking soda tends to dry the burn. =
&nbsp;What one wants is to protect against desiccation, and keep the =
burn moist.<div><br></div><div>The worst thing (so doctors have told me) =
is the traditional remedy of treating the burn with oily substances, =
such as butter or vaseline. &nbsp;Those retard healing, and must somehow =
be cleaned off with soap or something similar, which is painful and may =
cause further damage. &nbsp;Wet compresses are =
good.</div><div><br></div><div>The best immediate first aid for a small =
burn is ice. &nbsp;That is because the site of the burn is still =
undergoing damage as long as it is warm. &nbsp;Ice should be applied =
immediately =97 preferably within a second. &nbsp;That is possible in a =
kitchen setting, or somewhere where ice is readily available. &nbsp;If =
at a barbeque, run for the cooler chest where the beer is kept. =
&nbsp;Don't even delay to scream and fuss, or to examine the burn to see =
how bad it is: just get to the ice as soon as possible, pushing everyone =
and everything out of the way if you must. &nbsp;I am convinced that =
people often look at the burn, and wait to see how much it will hurt: =
that's a big mistake.</div><div><br></div><div>If the rest of your body =
is at normal temperature, and the air temperature is above freezing, =
application of ice to skin cannot cause damage by freezing, because the =
melting point of the ice (0 =B0C) is not cold enough to freeze =
tissue.</div><div><br></div><div>I have had enough dumb accidents in the =
kitchen to learn the routine. &nbsp;I go directly to the 'fridge, open =
the freezer, and shove the burned hand (for such it usually is) right =
into the ice bin, the faster the better. &nbsp;For this action, I now =
have my time down to about three seconds.</div><div><br></div><div>If =
ice is not available, use water: but is it nowhere near as effective as =
ice.</div><div><br></div><div>=97 Paul =
Boyer</div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On 26 May 2009, at 9:03 AM, =
David&amp;Jane Schlosberg wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"> <div =
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space"> <div><span =
class=3D"593175812-26052009"><font face=3D"Arial" color=3D"#0000ff" =
size=3D"2">When I was a child, my Mother used to put baking soda on =
burns.&nbsp; I always thought it worked, but I think I've since read =
that this is not a good idea.&nbsp; As a kid, I was fascinated by the =
texture and flaking of the soda.&nbsp; Perhaps it just diverted my =
mind--always a good remedy for any pain.</font></span></div> <div><span =
class=3D"593175812-26052009"><font face=3D"Arial" color=3D"#0000ff" =
size=3D"2">Jane</font></span></div></div></blockquote></div><br></div></bo=
dy></html>=

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