[Closed] I just poured boiling water over my left hand

[Unreal Tournament taunt] That had to hurt![/Unreal Tournament taunt] 😯

Not ice, run under cold water for a full 10 minutes (20 minutes for a chemical burn). If it's still bloody sore, may require a wee visit to folks that know what they're doing.

Rule of thumb is that if a burn is bigger than 1% of your body, it needs attention - one side of your hand is generally accepted as 1% of body surface.

Be careful with the ice. That'll burn as well. Just cold running water should be ok.

you could take the pain as a sign that the damage is shallow enough to leave nerves intact - so embrace it 🙂

I did that once. It took a big patch of skin off, hurt for several days. Took ages to heal over. My least favorite injury by a long way.

I can't help but think that had I been posting this I wouldn't have thought to specify which hand. Still I suppose I have learned that either you are right handed or this was an ill fated attempt to hone your ambidextrous skills.

Wrap it in cling film and go get it looked at.

Splodged a tablespoon of simmering steak 'n' ale gravy over my hand whilst cooking New Year's day dinner, (I may have been slightly pished at the time). Ran it under the cold water tap for a good 15-20 minutes....which really hurt! It took about a week to blister and peel and was really sore. Once all the skin started peeling I used moisturising stuff which cooled it down and eased the burny itch. Still a wee bit itchy and sore now, but I can hardly see the burn now!

Hope you get better soon!

I almost chopped the end of my thumb off the other day. Clean cut across the nail and 2/3rds of the way across.

Didn't hurt weirdly, still doesn't now

As above - burns that hurt are good as it means the damage is superficial. I'd be tempted to go to minor injuries with it tho all the same

The simplest first aid book will tell you not to put cold water on a scald

The simplest first aid book will tell you not to put cold water on a scold.

Utter nonsense

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1047.aspx?CategoryID=72

I presume he means not ice-cold water.

Utter nonsense

Well it says to use cool or tepid water and not iced water (or ice) so mikedabear pretty much has it nailed.

but as most people only have a Cold and Hot tap in the house, it's not a well written piece of advice

Were you taking part in this?? (Folk of a certain age will remember this) , 😆

I just poured boiling water over my left hand

monkeysfeet - Member

Were you taking part in this?? (Folk of a certain age will remember this)

Nah, he was probably just using his hand to check if his water had reached the optimal temperature for coffee.

but as most people only have a Cold and Hot tap in the house, it's not a well written piece of advice

Here's a clue. It's not the hot tap to cool something.

It's more important that it's cooled quickly than that you worry about the exact temperature of the water, at least at first.

Although if you're going to cool tissue you shouldn't make it too cold for too long, the most important thing with burns and scalds is that the cooling starts as soon as possible after the burn.

From what I remember of my physiology / first aid training.

Yep, best advice (from my First Aid training 2 weeks ago) is under running water for at least 10 mins. If water is not available, use another liquid such as milk.

Drac - Moderator
Here's a clue. It's not the hot tap to cool something.

Don't be an arse. next time I'm treating a burn I'm not going to wait to make sure the water is 'just so' before shoving whatever body part under it

The simplest first aid book will tell you not to put cold water on a scald

Don't be an arse. next time I'm treating a burn I'm not going to wait to make sure the water is 'just so' before shoving whatever body part under it

That was my point. It wasn't directed at you I used your quote to emphasise the point that cold is fine, sorry it confused you.

Yeah sorry about that. I did mean ice and don't know why I wrote water. Must have to much going on in the old head. Apologies.

I did this in November. It was about 4 hours before the pain started to subside and about 6 before it was just mildly irritating.

I wrapped mine in cling film as even air moving across it hurt like a SOB.

If it's still painful after 10 minutes in cold(ish) running water you should probably get it checked. If you have any blistering or opens sores forming you should go to minor injuries for advice to prevent getting an infection which could probably be much worse than the original burn.

Hope you can still ride at the weekend.

I did that with boiling milk. I tripped and the cup with boiling milk sloshed and splashed my hand. It was the worst paint I've ever had. Didn't matter how much I cooled it, it just carried on 'burning'.
Still have the scars on my hand in the splash shapes.

I feel your pain! I can't imagine having a whole hand burned.

Aloe vera is your friend, smother your hand in it as much and as often as possible.

Assuming just reddening and no blistering or open injury:

Intially cold running water (more like 20 minutes than 10)

Then topical cooling gel (cool gel and Water Jel).

Then Aloe vera to heal.

From first aid training and personal experience.

Tea Tree oil, applied neat to affected area. Works wonders!

...and yet no pictures.