First Degree Burns

With the holidays fast approaching, many are in the kitchen cooking for several hours a day. Others are lighting festive candles to add holiday cheer to the home.

Each of these can easily lead to minor first degree burns. These types of burns do not leave a blister, but are red and painful for several hours; they may also produce some minor swelling. While everyone should have a properly stocked medicine cabinet or first aid kit, many don't. So what do you do?

First rinse the area with cool water. This will dissipate the heat. Do not use butter, as this is tantamount to basting the turkey awaiting in your kitchen. If you don't have a burn ointment, you might very well have another product in your house that's just perfect--Preparation H. That's right; the old standby Prep H not only numbs the pain, it reduces tissue swelling.

I hope everyone has a safe and burn-free holiday season. Please e-mail me with related questions.

Nurse Nan