Helpful (?) (!) Advice for burns

[Kitiger, RN]

I spilled hot coffee on my lap a week ago, giving me second degree burns on my thigh. I was in a restaurant, so I RAN to the bathroom (10 seconds) while holding my clothes out from my body. Once in the bathroom, the pants came down, and I put sloppy wet cold paper towels on the burn, changing them out as they warmed. The blisters covered an area about two thirds the size of my palm. It's healing well, in part because I did NOT follow all the advice I was given.

1. "You should have sprayed it with Windex; that prevents blisters."

2. "You should have poured ice water over it."

3. "You should have put ice on the blisters; that way, the blisters harden and don't spread."

4. You should have kept ice on it for 24 hours."

5. "You should have gone straight to ER!"

... What "helpful" advice have you heard people give?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Windex????????

My late mother-in-law would put bacon grease on a burn. She ALWAYS had a coffee can of it. Not surprisingly, everyone on that side of the family dies of heart disease....but I digress.

[Kitiger, RN]

Yes, Windex! She was dead serious.

Maybe it helped cool the burn when water wasn't available? Myself, I would not put chemicals on a fresh burn, unless it was physician-ordered. (I'm thinking antibiotic ointment ...)

Somehow, nobody offered bacon grease. Maybe people are learning ...

[vanilla bean]

Apply egg whites. Still don't know if this is legit advice or not, but it might go good with the bacon grease

[Kitiger, RN]

Apply egg whites. Still don't know if this is legit advice or not, but it might go good with the bacon grease

Good one. :)

Of course, we're not supposed to eat anything with raw eggs, like cookie dough, because of Salmonella. I wouldn't want that on my burn. Infection control was my biggest worry, after the initial pain/panic.

[Kitiger, RN]

Mustard.

Now, that's different, although it might go with the eggs & bacon.

Why would someone want mustard on a burn?

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Why would someone want mustard on a burn?

Because it goes well with freshly cooked meat.

[BSN16]

Just rub some Vick's on it, you'll be fine. Vick's works for EVERYTHING!

[Anonymous865]

Windex????????

My late mother-in-law would put bacon grease on a burn. She ALWAYS had a coffee can of it. Not surprisingly, everyone on that side of the family dies of heart disease....but I digress.

You must not have seen the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The bride's father put Windex on every type injury.

Watch the movie sometime. It was funny and sweet. A family joke now is if anyone gets a cut, bite, or burn, we yell, "Get the Windex."

[kakamegamama]

Yes, Windex! She was dead serious.

Maybe it helped cool the burn when water wasn't available? Myself, I would not put chemicals on a fresh burn, unless it was physician-ordered. (I'm thinking antibiotic ointment ...)

Somehow, nobody offered bacon grease. Maybe people are learning ...

Maybe she was a fan of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"??????

Turpentine elixer for dosing when one has a bad, bad cough was advice once upon a time given to me by my mother-in-law. I about died when she told me she had been taking doses of it for a week due to a cough that wouldn't go away.......

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Per the Terms of Service, we are not allowed to give medical advice. Please see your healthcare provider with any questions you may have about treatment for your burns.

Wishing you quick healing.

[Kitiger, RN]

Per the Terms of Service, we are not allowed to give medical advice. Please see your healthcare provider with any questions you may have about treatment for your burns.

Wishing you quick healing.

My burn is healing well; I'm following my doctor's advice.

I'm talking about "advice" which, while well-meaning, is not helpful.

Like Windex.