Spikepretorius
Explorer
I saw this query on another forum.
Have any of you guys got any info on the use of sugar on burns?
Have any of you guys got any info on the use of sugar on burns?
Burn wounds in the bush?
- Thread starter Spikepretorius
- Start date
bucketosudz
Explorer
Butter, Honey, Sugar.... Um NO.
I have heard of stories using Honey, but I wouldn't recommend Honey or Sugar...Yikes! Cool water for burns.
Interested to hear what others say.
I have heard of stories using Honey, but I wouldn't recommend Honey or Sugar...Yikes! Cool water for burns.
Interested to hear what others say.
James86004
Expedition Leader
I imagine it depends if it is a 2nd or 3rd degree burn. When I had my 3rd degree burns, they put water on it and nothing else for a long time. I can't remember what the next step was (I was really out of it for 2 weeks) but at some point I got bandages. I do know the 3rd degree burns were treated differently than the 2nd degree.
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
UH as both a wilderness EMT, Firefighter etc and someone who's dealt with hundreds of burns... if you put Petroleum based products on Burns you're just gonna make things worse (you're trapping in the heat and will actualy make the burn worse.)... My suggestion is either Bacatracin or Silver sulvadine. I realize we're talking about "wilderness" cures, but frankly no matter where I am I have both of those things.
Best bet: DO NOT pop the blisters and submerge the burn in cold water. It's worked for me a couple times.
that's just my.02
Best bet: DO NOT pop the blisters and submerge the burn in cold water. It's worked for me a couple times.
that's just my.02
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
From extensive personal, um.... testing, yep testing is what it is I've learned to keep cool water on a burn for a very, very long time. Far better than aloe, which I keep a tube of on the top of the welding machine anyway. Cold or chilled water is too painful for me, local earth temperature (garden hose) is about right.
Submerge in cool water, running if possible until the coolness hurts, then just enough air for the burn to start to hurt, then back in the water. Keep going until the water doesn't hurt. That long.
My completely amateur health care theory behind this is that skin, being largely water, stores an impressive amount of thermal energy. It takes a very long time to remove all of that energy because the water temperature isn't as drastically different from the skin temperature as was the burning item. Until you do remove all of the energy will keep burning, it will continue to burn long after the actual introduction of the energy.
BTW, frozen green peas seem to work better than ice.
Submerge in cool water, running if possible until the coolness hurts, then just enough air for the burn to start to hurt, then back in the water. Keep going until the water doesn't hurt. That long.
My completely amateur health care theory behind this is that skin, being largely water, stores an impressive amount of thermal energy. It takes a very long time to remove all of that energy because the water temperature isn't as drastically different from the skin temperature as was the burning item. Until you do remove all of the energy will keep burning, it will continue to burn long after the actual introduction of the energy.
BTW, frozen green peas seem to work better than ice.
roamingaz
Explorer
From my own experience when I worked as a cook a common treatment for burns was raw egg. I would get some pretty serious burns from the grill or fryer and the first thing I would do is crack a egg on it and let it dry, instant cooling effect and it would keep from blistering really bad.
Burn free is the best ointment I have used on a burn. Just my opinon, it worked in the kitchen. :chef:
Burn free is the best ointment I have used on a burn. Just my opinon, it worked in the kitchen. :chef:
bucketosudz
Explorer
4Rescue, where are you getting your (SS) Silver Sulfadiazine cream? It was a prescription when I had it last and had a pretty short shelf-life.
I poured 500+ degree wax over my hands pouring molds for casting, (water solidifies wax to the hand and continues to burn for those whom are curious, it ULTRA SUCKS!!!) which in-turn provided me with a trip to the ER. They paddled some SS on the wax, wrapped my hand and wrist like a Q-tip, gave me pain meds and said come back in a couple days. 2 days later, they Whirlpooled and tongue-depressor scraped the tissue off my hand til it bled then put some more SS on my wound. Repeat for two-weeks, Its some amazing stuff and works very, very well. I had thin skin for a couple of years, but it healed well.
I wouldnt wish burns on my worst enemy, they are horrific painful!
I poured 500+ degree wax over my hands pouring molds for casting, (water solidifies wax to the hand and continues to burn for those whom are curious, it ULTRA SUCKS!!!) which in-turn provided me with a trip to the ER. They paddled some SS on the wax, wrapped my hand and wrist like a Q-tip, gave me pain meds and said come back in a couple days. 2 days later, they Whirlpooled and tongue-depressor scraped the tissue off my hand til it bled then put some more SS on my wound. Repeat for two-weeks, Its some amazing stuff and works very, very well. I had thin skin for a couple of years, but it healed well.
I wouldnt wish burns on my worst enemy, they are horrific painful!
pray4surf
Explorer
I wouldnt wish burns on my worst enemy, they are horrific painful!
Long story, but my wife burnt her ankle last camping trip. We slept with a heated rock (wrapped in a towel) at the foot of the sleeping bags. Never felt a thing, but woke to a 2nd degree burn over 3-4" sq in of her ankle.
It's been nearly a month and the doc's "can't" find anything wrong. "Looks OK" is all they are saying. But she sure is in pain. She's off to the UCSD Burn center tomorrow for an expert opinion.
My concern is that because the burn wasn't an immediate 'touched a hot surface' burn, but that it basically 'baked' all night long -
I didn't get burned...
Been an interesting thread - wish I had more to offer
Rick
suntinez
Explorer
I hesitate to mention this, because of my own reticence in trying it. I don't have a medical background . But referring to the original post where the scenario was they couldn’t leave medicines with the bush people, it may make sense.
Years ago I caught a torch burning mapp gas in the crook of my elbow, got a bad 3rd degree burn. I alternated silver sulfadene and aloe for a few weeks but the skin kept breaking open and it got infected.
I had a friend who swore by super-glue for lots of kinds of open-skin injuries and in the end, I let him superglue my elbow. It worked!! About 1.5 weeks later, the skin had grown over the opening and I wound up picking the superglue off in small pieces over the next several days. And no scar ...
I don’t know why it works, some say because it keeps oxygen/dirt out? But I’ve used it several times since (after cleaning) on small open wounds and 1st degree burns . They say the superglue itself can burn the skin, but I’ve never had that happen. And it’s in the toolbox.
Years ago I caught a torch burning mapp gas in the crook of my elbow, got a bad 3rd degree burn. I alternated silver sulfadene and aloe for a few weeks but the skin kept breaking open and it got infected.
I had a friend who swore by super-glue for lots of kinds of open-skin injuries and in the end, I let him superglue my elbow. It worked!! About 1.5 weeks later, the skin had grown over the opening and I wound up picking the superglue off in small pieces over the next several days. And no scar ...
I don’t know why it works, some say because it keeps oxygen/dirt out? But I’ve used it several times since (after cleaning) on small open wounds and 1st degree burns . They say the superglue itself can burn the skin, but I’ve never had that happen. And it’s in the toolbox.
cruisertoy
Explorer
Be carefull with superglue. They make a medical type that is pretty safe, but your generic hobby shop superglue has a lot of chemicals that you do not want in your body. I still cary a tube of it in my medical kit, but I go the route of other bandages before breaking it out. You should also rotate your stock of it in your kit at a lot of times it will crystalize and loose it's functionality in a matter of 6 months or less.
Desolation
Adventurer
As a Welder/Fabricator/Machinist I have invested blood and tissue to various projects.
Minor cuts, wash out superglue shut.
Larger cuts close them coat with sugar cover.
Closed Burns and Abrasions clean/cool with cool running water coat with sugar cover with gauze be sure that no tape covers the gauze over the actual wound.
I managed a torch burn that left my hand with charred flesh, it was cool!:Wow1:
Treatment was rather simple cool water for about an hour, then air dried to moist then I coated the burn with sugar. I have only a minor scar I would have to point out.
I learned the sugar thing more then 30 years ago from a burn specialist fellow rock climber.
Running Water to cool, and sugar to give the body a mechanism to allow coagulation over the open wound thus sealing it. Sugar is a natural anti-biotic, and can be easily rinsed off when you can get to a Doc. Never close a wound to oxygen thus sugar and NEVER a grease of any kind!
Sugar also for reasons I do not understand shuts down nerves so it reduces pain. Finally the damage I inflict on me heals 2x faster with sugar then with anything else!
Sugar, it's in my trauma kit!
Minor cuts, wash out superglue shut.
Larger cuts close them coat with sugar cover.
Closed Burns and Abrasions clean/cool with cool running water coat with sugar cover with gauze be sure that no tape covers the gauze over the actual wound.
I managed a torch burn that left my hand with charred flesh, it was cool!:Wow1:
Treatment was rather simple cool water for about an hour, then air dried to moist then I coated the burn with sugar. I have only a minor scar I would have to point out.
I learned the sugar thing more then 30 years ago from a burn specialist fellow rock climber.
Running Water to cool, and sugar to give the body a mechanism to allow coagulation over the open wound thus sealing it. Sugar is a natural anti-biotic, and can be easily rinsed off when you can get to a Doc. Never close a wound to oxygen thus sugar and NEVER a grease of any kind!
Sugar also for reasons I do not understand shuts down nerves so it reduces pain. Finally the damage I inflict on me heals 2x faster with sugar then with anything else!
Sugar, it's in my trauma kit!
Desert Dan
Explorer
I have always worried about a major burn from a gas stove/lantern explosion, fcampfire or burst radiator hose (when under the vehicle).
Pain relief would be number one and then field treatment and transport etc.
Pain relief would be number one and then field treatment and transport etc.
S