Skydancer wrote:
Ouch! Glad you are better.

But are you sure you are referring to a 3rd degree burn?

I think so.

my fingers were chalk white.

like searing meat.

the flesh was starting to roll off, slightly.

I had them under water in 15 seconds or less, on ice cream in 60 seconds or less and drove myself to 7-11 to get a bag of ice in 3-5 minutes or less.

Within 10 minutes my hand was submerged in ice water for 2 hours and I popped 1/2 a Vicodin to be able to keep my hand in the water.

Then, I drove myself to my realtor appt. and told her I'd be 1/2 hour late.

Grabbed a bath with my hand in the bucket and carried it during the showing.

I really wanted that house.

J T I wrote:
Did it hurt?

If it didn't - then it was likely a 3rd degree.  But if it did - then more likely a 1st or 2nd degree.  The way you described it healed - not a third degree.

Nevertheless, glad you took care of it.  I've done tissue flaps to try and get burn victims to heal. Horrible - horrible stuff!

Best Wishes,
Jason

No pain.

That's what scared the shit out of me when I did it.

It started to hurt an hour later.

But I had vicodin and ice water.

The ice water hurt more than the burn itself.

The worst pain came 1-1.5 hours later.

Dave the design student wrote:
Here's a trick.

Less than 2 weeks ago I got third degree burns on my hand.

Place your hand into a bucket of ice water and leave it there for 2 hours.

It's going to hurt worse than the burn, but it'll save you.

Milk helps, too...and doesn't hurt at all.

Poses wrote:
I'm glad that it worked for you, but I'm pretty sure that this is bad medical advice to be giving.

The alternative would have been driving to an ER and waiting for them to put my hand on ice.

At which point, there would have been major burn damage and a large bill.

The blisters were huge and instant and the ice water stopped the cooking below the flesh.

What's funny is, I could feel it cooking almost 2 hours later if I took it out of the water.

I didn't think.  I got it on ice as fast as possible.

The only time I've had a worse burn was picking up a smoke bomb as a child during 4th of July and letting molten die burn into my hand.

Now that shit hurt.

ER gave me an ice pack and pain medication and told me to hang in there.

That's the worst pain I've ever slept through.

Poses wrote:
I'm glad that it worked for you, but I'm pretty sure that this is bad medical advice to be giving.

Why?  The area needs to be cooled off quickly regardless of the treatment that follows.

Dave the design student wrote:
I didn't know it, but the flesh near the bone continues to burn for up to 2 hours, after the burn is over.

By keeping it in ice water, it draws all heat out of the area.

Doesn't this sound crazy to you? Think about it; if you charred a piece of meat, then put it on a counter top, would it still be hot 2 hours later?

Poses wrote:
I'm glad that it worked for you, but I'm pretty sure that this is bad medical advice to be giving.

Enrapture Photography wrote:
Why?  The area needs to be cooled off quickly regardless of the treatment that follows.

Because, giving yourself frostbite is even worse than just getting a burn.

Dave the design student wrote:
Here's a trick.

Less than 2 weeks ago I got third degree burns on my hand.

Place your hand into a bucket of ice water and leave it there for 2 hours.

It's going to hurt worse than the burn, but it'll save you.

pics or it didnt happen

Imagebuffet wrote:
Because, giving yourself frostbite is even worse than just getting a burn.

You won't get frostbite.

Poses wrote:
I'm glad that it worked for you, but I'm pretty sure that this is bad medical advice to be giving.

Enrapture Photography wrote:
Why?  The area needs to be cooled off quickly regardless of the treatment that follows.

Because cold can be just as dangerous as heat; additionally, isn't it possible that unclean ice/water could introduce dirt and bacteria into the wound?

Edit: Additionally, pretty much every first aid guide there is specifies not to use ice water.  So don't just take my word for it.

Enrapture Photography wrote:

You won't get frostbite.

Frostbite or hypothermia are possible outcomes. It's unnecessary, anyway.

Here is what the Mayo Clinic says:

For minor burns, including first-degree burns and second-degree burns limited to an area no larger than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, take the following action:

    * Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with cold compresses. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Don't put ice on the burn.
    * Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage. Don't use fluffy cotton, or other material that may get lint in the wound.

For major burns, call 911 or emergency medical help. Until an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:

   1. Don't remove burned clothing. However, do make sure the victim is no longer in contact with smoldering materials or exposed to smoke or heat.
   2. Don't immerse large severe burns in cold water. Doing so could cause a drop in body temperature (hypothermia) and deterioration of blood pressure and circulation (shock).

Poses wrote:
Because cold can be just as dangerous as heat; additionally, isn't it possible that unclean ice/water could introduce dirt and bacteria into the wound?

The first step in treating a burn is to cool the area in cool or cold water.  Ice should not be applied directly (like an ice pack), but it is acceptable to use a bucket with water and ice.  Infection?  Of course it can happen, but you still need to treat the primary injury first.

Imagebuffet wrote:
Frostbite or hypothermia are possible outcomes. It's unnecessary, anyway.

I disagree with the 2 hour time frame--if the burn is that severe it needs further treatment.  Haven't you ever iced a sprained ankle in a bucket of ice water?

Poses wrote:
Because cold can be just as dangerous as heat; additionally, isn't it possible that unclean ice/water could introduce dirt and bacteria into the wound?

Enrapture Photography wrote:
The first step in treating a burn is to cool the area in cool or cold water.  Ice should not be applied directly (like an ice pack), but it is acceptable to use a bucket with water and ice.  Infection?  Of course it can happen, but you still need to treat the primary injury first.

I wasn't aware that anyone in this thread had a medical degree.  Or is even certified in first aid,* for that matter.  I maintain that this is not good medical advice for treatment of a third degree burn.  Until someone who is an EMT or doctor or nurse or something comes in and settles the matter, we'll have to agree to disagree.

*Actually, I used to be.  But I don't really remember much.

Enrapture Photography wrote:

I disagree with the 2 hour time frame--if the burn is that severe it needs further treatment.  Haven't you ever iced a sprained ankle in a bucket of ice water?

Not that I recall, but I have iced my tendons using thick towels to moderate the cold.

Poses wrote:
I wasn't aware that anyone in this thread had a medical degree.

Relax just a bit.  I asked why it was bad advice.  It's been about five years since I have had first aid training, but I have had experience with this.  I have had wilderness first aid training and we were taught to treat burns with the coldest water we had available--and this included sticking hands/feet into coolers with ice water.

Gabrielle Heather wrote:
I would love to disagree with poses.............. but, when i finally got to the hospital............ i *think    I remember them saying that running it under cold water was a bad idea............ but that couold have been the circumstances in which i got burnt. I also drove to the hospital with my hand in a bag of ice bc if I took it out I was in excruciating pain. I had 2nd degree burns, so i felt the pain immensely. Was hyper ventilating. I wound up peeling my own flesh off. No bleeding, no nothing. Pics to prove it. Healing sucked. ow. I have much respect for anyone who has suffered from burns. and recovered.

I'm glad you recovered with minimal scarring--it looked pretty painful.  What was the cause?

Enrapture Photography wrote:
I'm glad you recovered with minimal scarring--it looked pretty painful.  What was the cause?

i have to tell you the funniest story ever............ yeah........... dont ever home wax........... or try to.......... i have always shaved........... tried one time unsuccessfully not reading directions............. my bf and i........... together........... torturing each other (this sounds much more odd than it is, but we have been best friends for 18 years then, 24 now), pulling the strips off of each other................. cheering each other on to pull it and just GO. Point being, didnt work right.

So, I figured last year............. almost two? now............. I'll try it on my own at home............ I tested a small patch the night prior and it worked! I was excited........ Following day, I go to melt the wax again, was gonna wax my cootie coo, I stick the wax in the micro for the allotted time........ go to take it out. (it is in this round this plastic tub and has a wooden applicator you use)

So, I go to look at  it, and I see a clump on the side. So, I figure, ok, put it in longer, melt the clump. One minute longer, Open the micro door, Still a fucking clump. more time. STILL A CLUMP. I get impatient. (didnt realize since it had been heated once there is different timing and you have to stir it and what not.......... I dont do this crap regularly, it was for shits and giggles really)

So, my genious self picks the tub up with one hand, takes the wooden applicator and tries to wedge the applicator between the clump of solid wax and the side of the tub of wax in order to be able to get it in the tub with the rest of the wax to melt When I did that, I spilled a bunch of the wax directly on my hand (that had been overheated now by two minutes).

IT fucking hurt like hell. I stood still for a minute not knowing what to do........... looking around. Then i turned the cold water on. They said that was my first mistake. I held it under there and I went aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh refreshing. This feels amazing. What it did was to solidify the top layer of wax and relieve the top layer of pain. The immediate shock was gone.

I turned the water off and about 4 seconds later.......... FUUUUUUUCK! My skin was still burning underneath. I couldnt do anything. I had to get the wax off. I made the choice without thinking to "make the pain stop" by peeling wax off my hand. As I was peeling, I noticed it looked different underneath. I was confused. Had no clue what just happened. Didnt see blood, so I didnt realize. I was in shock basically. I picked up the larhgest chunk of wax and saw a huge piece of my flesh attatched to it. I turned the water back on and called my dad.  "ummmm dad? im not sure.......... but I think i just burned myself........... can you come over?, I think i should go to the hospital"

all the skin around my wrist shed. my finger too, and of course..... a good chunk of my hand

Gabrielle Heather wrote:
dont ever home wax...........

Well, thank God it was only your hand!

Imagebuffet wrote:
Unfortunately, the water level rose over the top of the end of the glove, and poured inside the glove.

As soon as you went into detail about the gloves I knew this wasn't going to end well.  I can just imagine how that felt on your arm.

Gabrielle Heather wrote:

pics or it didnt happen

those are hard to look at.

mine had that white stuff going on towards the edges, like yours.

but, i only got 2 fingers and barely a third.

and there's no way i wanted to remember that.

yours is 10x worse

mine hit the water before the flesh could pull away

Dave the design student wrote:
i saw it

didn't believe it

ran to water

then to ice/ice cream

then stayed on the phone to keep from going into shock

then got ice water in a bowl

then in a pitcher, just like Nemi

the real estate appt. distracted me

can't imagine doing nothing for 2 hours with my hand in ice water

the 1/2 tab of vicodin made it all liveable

*hug*  you're not allowed to hurt yourself!  Understand?  *makes grrrr face*

Dave the design student wrote:
I didn't know it, but the flesh near the bone continues to burn for up to 2 hours, after the burn is over.

By keeping it in ice water, it draws all heat out of the area.

I had an engine burned into my finger, but after a couple days it faded.

You know when you put meat on a grill.  Chicken.  And the skin burns off?

yeah. 

that's what it's like.

burned my finger prints off for a day.

ouch i did this, but replace the cool motorcycle engine with an iron, which magically fell onto my arm. and me being too stunned and shocked to actually get it off let it sit there for about a minute. I had no idea how it just fell over. It was sitting there perfectly fine, nothing hit the ironing board or the iron, it just said MMMMM ARM and attacked. My dad was right there and was stunned for a second b/c i was not moving, screaming or crying. i had no pain at first. after his initial shock he grabbed the iron and the skin was stuck to the iron just like chicken. It was absolutely disgusting.

My dad held my arm in the sink full of ice water for a few hours. Yes it is painful, very painful. I actually have no scar whatsoever from it. thank you dad, for the torture!