Well, it finally happened (kids and stoves and burns)

[stoveguy2esw]

one thing i picked up on was wrapping or dressing the burn, you really should not tightly wrap a burn, looser wraps that allow the wound to breathe while keeping it clean and dry are preferred not to mention releaving a little pressure from the already tender new forming skin is less painful.

Well...that depends on the extent of the burn. In a 3rd degree situation you will find that the dressings are wrapped quite tightly. It helps to flatten the scar tissue. I realize that I am talking about a whole 'nuther thing than what Rose (and child) are going through. Lets just say that I don't want to see another ace bandage in my life.

yeah, true, this wasnt a 3rd degree case im sure, dmamge is much deeper than the demis with 3rd degree so its important to keep infection out after debriding. surface burns where dermis damage isnt the case a loose wrap is preferred

 

[tlingit]

I did burn care on a my daughter similar to what you are describing. And on her hands as well. Her injuries (not from a wood stove, from a burn pile) were enough that she went to harbourview. I gave her the pain meds about 20 minutes before, then I'd put her in the bath. Before I'd put her in, I scrubbed like a surgeon, me, the tub, everything. Being in the tub made it more comfortable and allowed the skin to soften. You are right about the soothing effect of the water. I'd have everything laid out, bandages, cream, everything. I'd cut them the tape to the right sizes, have everything ready. I'd dry her quickly, then put her bandages on. If it continues to be a big struggle, tell your doc and maybe they can prescribe a different pain medication. I'm so sorry you are going through this, it is so hard to be the caregiver at these times. Many years later, I still get tears in my eyes thinking about it. My best wishes are with all of you. (ps, she's a teen now, and made a beautiful recovery, very minor scarring).

 

[RoseRedHoofbeats]

She is actually doing REALLY well with the bandage changing, we're doing a similar set up. I soak her hand in a disinfecting solution and then dry it off, then apply the silvadene to her actual burns, and then apply my salve to the bandages, and wrap her up all good. Last night she actually applied the silvadene herself and was all proud of herself. =) They are really healing up nicely, I'm quite pleased.

~Rose

 

[Blue Vomit]

I personally built a gate around the stove. Yes, I know that we can teach the little ones "hot" and all that jazz, but when you have a 2 and 3 year old feeding off of each other, its the accidents that I am concerned with. The unintentional stuff.

x2, from the start we installed a kidco gate. My son knows it's hot and a no touch but with the stove in our family room it's also the "play" room. Anything could happen and have him end up falling into the stove I figured it wasn't worth the worry and just gated it up. He helps me load the stove, close the bypass and turn the T-Stat down so he knows but I'm sure his 2 1/2 year old brain can forget rather quickly when he's playing.

Rose I look forward to reading "the little one is all healed up" in no time!

X3 I know people are just about split on the hearth gate issue. I just dont think all the education and training your kids can prevent an accident. Kids will be kids and accidents can happen. Thats why I spent the money, a little added protection. If I had a dollar for every time I played ball in the house after I was told "Dont play ball in the house!" I would be a rich man.
Rose, I think your child is lucky to have you as a mom. The care you show to your child is exemplary. Accidents happen, its what you do to deal with them that counts. You did great IMHO.
Best wishes to the little one.

 

[babzog]

I was always taught to never pop a blister (though I will pop a blood blister in a heartbeat due to the immediate pain relief popping it brings) since the dead skin is a natural bandage over he wound and the fluid inside is sterile. Pop it and you've exposed that wound to all the bacteria in your environment.

My son got a scald burn when he was just a babe. Cooled one side with water but the other wide (pressed again Mum) was missed and blistered overnight. Took him to ER who consulted with CHEO (children's hospital) and they said to leave the blisters intact and just apply some vaseline to keep the area moist and sterile. Had to wrap as well with that goo on there but after a few days, the blisters were gone and he has no scarring from the event.

Hope she's feeling better soon... burns are soo painful.

 

[RoseRedHoofbeats]

I went ahead with popping the blisters because of how hugely painful they looked, and how easily they popped. They would have popped on their own in no time at all (the biggest one on her thumb actually popped on it's own while we were still at the hospital) without the benefit of having pain meds or several nurses and an ER doctor to help me bandage them at the time.

~Rose