Can someone please explain to me why practically all of life’s {little} emergencies happen when you have pajamas on? Seriously, what is that all about?
Like when you find your dog has been eating the chocolate truffles you had stashed in your closet and you have to rush the dog to the vet to have their stomach pumped.
Or you know, you’re teenager’s car breaks down alongside the road on the way to school and you are so worried about them being stuck on the side of the road that you rush out of the house {in pajamas of course because it’s 6 am} to wait with them.
Or even better {worse?} you’re making dinner and when you move the sauté pan to the side of the stove to take it off the heat, you get distracted for a second and then you put your hand on the HOT STOVE as you reach up to the cupboard to grab a baking dish and burn your hand.
Like second degree why won’t this STOP throbbing for 45 minutes kind of burn. OUCH!
And then when you stop freaking out you realize this is not ambulance worthy, or ER worthy. It’s possibly DR visit worthy, but really, how long is that trip going to take? You live in Timbuctoo. What would the Dr. tell you to do? Put your hand in cold water until the throbbing stopped? Put some ointment on it? Bandage it up and keep the area clean?
I can get that kind of information from Dr. Google {and Mrs. HB}.
What was my point?
Oh yes, mini emergencies. They always seem to happen on that ONE DAY you didn’t shower and are still in your pajamas and if a reporter showed up on the scene to interview you, you’d come across as a total nutter. TOTAL NUTTER. The only icing on the cake would be if you had just eaten Oreo’s and your mouth was full of chocolatey cookie bits and a three legged dog walked by in the background.
Life. It’s never dull, that’s for sure.
Wednesday. Let’s do this!
~Mavis
J in OH-IO says
Ouch- Feel better soon! The pajamas and Oreo comments is classic- a good laugh to start my day. You know how to make us all smile through life’s ups and downs! Keep calm and carry on! Take care!
Tracey says
Oh ouch! I’ve done that. I hope it heals quickly. That throbbing from a burn is not fun.
And also – big things break on the weekends (you know, when it costs more for repair-folk to come out)… for us, it was the hot water tank. (we decided to just turn it off and not have hot water for a bit until Monday).
Mavis Butterfield says
Plumbing problems especially! I would have done the same thing.
Mrs. M. says
In Texas, there is a plumber and all his employees that have agreed not to charge any after hours/weekend rates to help the community get repairs made after our unseasonable freezing cold, ice, snow storm that froze and broke a lot of people’s pipes. I think that’s heroic… sacrificing their time away from family without the extra pay.
Debi says
I busted the handle of kitchen faucet Friday right before mammogram appt. Shut off water valve, stopped by an Ace Hardware instead of big box. could not think how sprayer set up, so bought one of each faucet. Friend put on Sunday.
Kinda says
Take care and hopefully you’ll heal soon. Good thing to have an updated first aide kit.
Ramona says
Our hot water tank sprung a leak on Christmas morning which was on a Friday this past year. A repairman came out Saturday morning and replaced the part. I was surprised that it only cost $160 for the job when the part cost $40. A few weeks ago the ignitor went out on the gas furnace on the coldest night of the year a Saturday.
Susan Dillinger says
I was turning a roast over in a crock pot and the juices splashed up on my face, ouch, short story, couple weeks later for Christmas that year I received an aloe vera plant. It is now huge and I noticed when I reported recently and took a leaf off I had a lot of juices coming out it, amazing. The gel really worked well for my burn.
MEM says
I frequently get burned while cooking and baking – and the best cure is the 100% aloe vera gel I keep in the fridge for sunburns and other burns. In my experience it brings immediate relief and leaves no scars. Hope you heal quickly!
Aunt Diane from Streator says
On the good side…now you have a good picture of your ring (for insurance purposes). Sorry about your injury. Slow down, girl scout, and take care of yourself.
Mel says
Yikes, I hope it heals soon.
After getting caught off-guard by various mini emergencies, one of my yearly goals in 2019 was to update first aid kits, and it has been a huge help. At home we have cat, dog, chicken, and human first aid kits, and then I have a mini kit for my purse and another full kit in my office. I included (but have not yet needed) burn cream and hydro seal burn bandages because touching a hot stove by accident is exactly the kind of thing I would do.
For Christmas, I made a friend a first aid kit to keep in her office that also included non-first aid stuff (e.g., change for the vending machine, hair ties, gum, lotion, mini deodorant, safety pins, floss) for all those other little snafus that seem to happen at the worst time.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks for mentioning the hydro seal burn bandages. I am totally getting those.
Mel says
No problem! I hope they help. Band-aid even makes regular Band-aids with a similar seal, and they are my favorites because they stay on so much better—great for blisters and all kinds of stuff.
Lorraine says
Those items sound amazing along with aloe gel. They will all work.
But, first things first. No first aid kit needed.
In stead of cold water, which is immediate reaction, pour apple cider vinegar into a bowl. (To fit burned area of hand).
The instant pain relief is so unbelievable! It is immediate!!!
You may have to do that a number of times; but, it works. Additionally, the blisters go away and no scars. Promise!!
Jen says
Great idea!
Robin in WI says
I just got a third narrow second-degree burn from the oven rack on the back of my hand the other week. 😉 Right after I was in Home Depot getting bird seed and saw potted aloe plants and thought maybe I should get one in case I burn my hand again. Then I thought nah, I probably won’t.
Mavis Butterfield says
Now we both need aloe plants! 🙁
L. Bryant says
Sorry about the burn. If you go to the Doctors ask for Silvadene. This is by prescription but is used on 2nd and 3rd degree burns in medical facilities. It helps with the burning, helps prevent infection, and minimizes scarring. We have had to use it for some serious burns and IT WORKS!!!!
Take care
Christie says
Yes, this is a great product! My mom used it during radiation treatment on her neck (caused second degree burns) and it was the only thing that alleviated the pain. I definitely recommend asking the dr. for this.
Torry says
I wish I had known about this when I was dealing with horrible radiation burns while fighting breast cancer.
Colleen says
Been there, done that. I find that if I ignore the pain it does go away or I forget about it….lol
Connie says
Ouchie!
Aloe Vera is your friend. Keep some in fridge and in medicine cabinet. Slather on generously and magic will happen ,
Brianna says
In October I spilled a piping cup of hot tea on my lap. Because of the way I was sitting I burnt my mid-stomach and belly button area. I couldn’t get my shirt off fast enough. Anyways I have a volleyball-sized and probably permanent red Bloch across my stomach now, it has hurt and peeled many times. I had it checked out by the Dr. and she said it can take months to heal and to watch the skin doesn’t become too taught. I wouldn’t mind some extra tight skin across my stomach. Burns are painful and take forever to heal. At least with your hand you have an extra layer of skin as compared to other parts of your body, so it protects you a little more. I hope it heals quickly and doesn’t disable you for too long.
Mrs. C. says
This has happened to me and it does take a long time. Keep slathering it with olive oil or coconut oil to keep the skin moist while it continues to heal, and avoid sun exposure to the area.
Ruth says
A few years ago I had a quarter-sized burn on my wrist which was very slow to heal. After 6 weeks it was still hurting and looked bad. For whatever reason (Dr. Google?) I applied a few drops of Seabuckthorn oil at bedtime.
In the morning, I did a triple-take: a remarkable amount of healing had occurred overnight.
I continued applying for a few more days with great results…no sign of a scar.
Seabuckthorn is a Mediterranean plant with high levels of Vitamin A. It’s been used in folk medicine for centuries (Ancient Greece). I ordered the oil from Amazon.
But please do your own research. It’s just that I had such an outstanding result…I wanted to share. Best wishes!
Susan H. says
I have learned to take a tylenol asap after I get burned. Then I do the same as you did. I hate that throbbing pain! I pray you heal quickly!
Mrs. C. says
You actually did the right things! From the photo, given the blistering, it looks like a mild second degree burn. So, first thing is to cool it down in ice water, because the liquid in the cells keeps cooking and you want to stop that. Then you slather on the burn creams and antibiotic ointment and KEEP IT SLATHERED, and bandaged. If you take a shower, once you finish, slather it back on and re-bandage. Be generous with the creams, do not skimp. (Former EMT here).
Katie says
Things always seem to happen in my house when my husband (a firefighter) is away on shift. I don’t think he’s ever been home when one of my kids has gotten sick in the middle of the night. Thankfully, he’s a medic. So I know that if something really bad were to happen, he could handle it.
andrea d says
Yep. Especially with kids, I’m always on alert- how quickly could I change if I needed to make an ER visit 🙂
The best thing for burns is something with Silver in it. As someone else mentioned, you can get a prescription for Silvadene- this is what the hospital gave my husband about 20 years ago when he suffered extreme burns to his head/face/arms. Then I used it again a few years ago when my daughter fell on a space heater and burned her cheek. She doesn’t even have a scar.
But, if you don’t want the hassle of going to the doctor, you can get an over the counter Silver gel that also works great. I always keep a couple of them around and we use it on everything- from cooking burns to sunburn to bug bites and acne. It is a miracle worker. I get mine through a holistic doctors office, but if you search on Amazon for “American Biotech Labs – ASAP OTC Wound Dressing Gel – First Aid and Burn Relief” you’ll find it.
Lana says
I am so sorry. I grabbed the handle of a hot cast iron pan that had been in the oven years ago and actually heard my skin sizzle. I used this https://hopewelloils.com/hydrosol-lavender.php and never even blistered. We keep it in a roller bottle and also a spray bottle to grab quick for any burn or insect bite. It is the bomb for sunburn, too. For a serious pain situation like this we take a shot of bourbon. It works better than anything else and we keep it just for medicinal purposes.
Paula says
Ouch! I have totally done that myself! Tylenol or other type helps with the pain.
Beth says
Oh Mavis I’m so sorry you burned yourself! I burn myself often- usually on the inside of my arms taking things in and out of the oven. My husband and daughter call me a “self harmer”….nope I’m clumsy…just clumsy! It does occur to me on days when I take my pajamas off and put on my comfy work around the house clothes sans bra of course “What if I had to leave the house quickly dressed like this?”…yeah it’s not pretty. I used to follow a blogger who suggested getting fully dressed including lace up shoes every day (including doing your face)….she claimed it makes you more productive…that I doubt…it would however mean I don’t scare the neighbors when I go to my mailbox…
Debbie M says
Sorry about your burn been there done that. Over the counter emergency burn gel with lidocaine will help.
But the very best is prescription silvadene cream it takes away the pain and speeds healing if you dont want to visit the doctor might be a good time to try telehealth.
Spedy recovery
Diane says
Everyone should Google the phone number for a free 24 hour nurse line in their area and put the number in your phone right now! I used this numerous times when my children were little as their fever always would spike in the middle of the night, of course!
Margo says
My thing used to be whenever my Navy husband deployed something would break, like the car,etc. one year I said goodbye, came home and the washing machine wouldn’t fill. In frustration I banged on it once and a tree frog hopped out of the line solving the problem. Guess you need to prepared for anything!
Sue says
I love this story!
Mrs. M. says
Lol! First time a temper tantrum was actually beneficial!
Lisa Benitez says
Hope your hand is feeling better. Years ago I got a big steam burn on my wrist. I immediately put TOOTHPASTE on the burn right away and it stopped hurting. The next day there was a big blister like bubble on it and even thought it wasn’t hurting I went to the doctor to have it checked out. The doctor said there was nothing further to do to it, but he could give me something for the pain. I told him it didn’t hurt and that I had applied toothpaste and he was amazed!
Diana says
I find Tooth paste works every time. Itsxalso very soothing.
Nora says
I burned the palm of my hand and got some opioids. They worked wonders! Plus daily hospital checks of the wound/blister for almost a week.
Jen says
No opioids now and no visits at all unless you pay big bucks!
First aid kits at home and each car and keep them updated!
Nora says
Living in Germany 🙂
We pay social fees – but doctor and hospital visits, plus medicine is free (amongst others). Bit Right now I would avoid hospital visits as welk bc of covid.
J says
Hello, please take your rings off as your hand will likely swell more before it gets better. This will save you potentially having to cut them off. Thank you having
Teri says
Butter and/or aloe vera. Hope the throbbing has stopped by now and you are feeling a little better.
Teri says
I guess butter is not a good idea after all.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
Only use unsalted butter. The salted butter is worse for a burn than nothing.
tc says
I always put organic honey on burns, instant releif and never leaves a scar. None of the sue bee china junk honey, must be organic only problem is it is sticky so you have to put a glove on or a bandage. I learned about it from a nurse who said years ago they would put honey on the sores of diabetic patients and it worked. I was skeptical at first but it has worked for every burn i have had.
Cari says
A therapeutic grade lavender essential oil, neat to the burn, with a q-tip ever couple of hours will take away the sting, and reduce the blister. Keep applying to help with scarring.
Margo says
Been there, done that. Sounds like you did all the right things.
It was fascinating to read comments about other remedies. Duly noted, in case I have a similar accident again. Hope you heal quickly.
Sandy says
Immediately mix a paste of baking soda and water and apply to the burn. This works great even on sunburn to stop the pain and decrease inflammation and blisters. Replace it as the heat from the burn dries it. Also an antibiotic with lidocaine works almost as well during the acute phase.
Richelle says
Please do not put butter on your burn. It holds in the heat and increases the risk of infection. Actually, don’t put anything on it until it cools down.
Lisa says
Mavis, as a fellow Mainer who works at a hospital, let me put your mind at ease. You live in Maine now, and there is nothing you could possibly do to make a doctor think you are a nutter. They wouldn’t bat an eye at an Oreo covered oral cavity. Pajamas? That’s nothing. Oh the stories I could tell. Anyway, you won’t shock anyone in Maine. Carryon with your bad self. Hope it heals quickly. Burns hurt.
Heidi Hooper says
Oh Mavis, I’m sorry! That makes me cringe just looking at it. Burns are the worsted in my opinion!!
Take care and hope it heals quickly!
Dianne says
OMG – so sorry to hear! Bee Balm. Hope you have been able to control the pain! Best wishes and speedy recovery.
tia in boise says
ouch–sorry about the burn.
3-legged dog comment = funny!
Robin Martin says
For us it never fails, a pet will need emergency vet care on a Friday evening or over the weekend!
No local vets are open so it’s a special vet and super expensive… needless to say we do our best to keep them as healthy as possible and not have to go to vets on the weekend.
Hope you heal quickly
sandra says
I am with the Aloe Vera crowd. Keep a plant on the window sill in the kitchen. After cooling the burn with ice water, beak off a branch and apply the cooling gel to the born area.
Joely says
Oh Mavis! Ouch! I am so sorry. I hope it stops hurting soon. I’ve done it, too.
Lace Faerie says
So sorry to hear about burns – – hate them!
If the crazy covid store-emptying panic taught me anything, it’s to be ready to be self-sufficient and ready to handle emergencies for me and mine. I know this is a hard task for minimalists. I won’t preach.
Speaking only to burns, I keep aloe vera gel with lidocaine in my fridge at all times! Plus an unopened one in the first-aid go-bag.
I learned about aloe from a grandmother who babysat for the hotel in Hawaii when I was 10. (Properly addressed as “Auntie”, not Grandma). She called down to the kitchen for a chunk of fresh aloe and mashed it up and put it on our sunburned faces, shoulder and the scalp part of our braids. That was after she put all 5 of us into the bathtub together and scrubbed us top to bottom assembly line style. Washed and re-braided our hair, dressed us in my father’s white tshirts and tucked us into the king sized bed like sausages in ascending size order! Hahaha fun memories!
Jessica says
Next time you burn yourself, take the white from an egg and stir it together well then glop it on the burn for anywhere from 35-45 min. There is something about the protein in the egg that helps to lesson the pain and helps so it doesn’t blister as much.
I read it many year ago and have tried it in 2 friends and myself and it has helped alot. Then clean with cool water and mild soap. You can apply loose bandage if needed.
Vy says
My kids could only get super sick at 5pm on Fridays, amazingly consistent. And this was pre-Urgent care so it was either figure it out myself or Children’s Hospital ER. Stitches? 5pm on a Friday. Croup? 5pm on a Friday. Relentless!
Emily says
As someone who has worked in ER and Urgent Care settings I can tell you know one cares what you’re wearing. It’s a plus if you’re not actively modeling your underwear when you arrive, but I promise you we’ve seen it before.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
My car only breaks down on Friday afternoon on a three day weekend. Otherwise, it runs like a top.
Silvadene certainly does help. I would not put egg white on the burn as there can be salmonella in egg’s white. Not likely, but possible.
Mrs. M. says
Years ago when I was the stay at home mom and hubby was the bread winner, I very seldom had help in the kitchen. One day, I went to dust some crumbs off the ceramic cooktop before preparing our meal and didn’t know he had turned the burner on with no pan on it. (I guess he didn’t know ceramic top stoves don’t need preheated! Haha) Anyway, one of my very worst burns because it was the palm of my hand. Right up there with my preheated cast iron skillet burn!
Ice, then Aloe vera plant gel, then Silvadene to the rescue!
Mrs. M. says
BTW, one of my best first aid kit must-haves for nicks and cuts is SUPER GLUE. We’ve used it for human and pet injuries. I like the mini (one use) tubes because we can use and toss and not try to keep it from drying out before the next injury. (They come in a pack of five for $1 at the Dollar Tree. )
We always clean the injury very well and disinfect it BEFORE applying the glue.
Praying your burn heals quickly, Mavis.