Burns/Cooking oil finger

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Expert: Jim B - 11/30/2008


Question
Hello Jim,

About 3 days ago I was on a school field trip and the teacher had us get into groups of three to cook some bread. We prepared the stove and the cooking oil and left it burn while all three of us went away too look at some other group and when I came back I saw smoke coming from what seemed to be the cooking oil in the rectangular box lying on top of the stove. I turned it off knowing it was already too hot and I shouted to the other two that they forgot to turn the stove off. Immediately  they came back and about 5-20 seconds after I turned the stove off one of the group members dropped a pile of dough into a half full rectangular box from about 30 centimeters above. Not knowing he was going to drop it I stood next to the stove and a chunk of cooking oil fell onto the finger between the midddle finger and the thumb on my right hand. I was in alot of pain and when I looked at my finger I saw that the whole finger was red and that the burn ended up burning a 1 cm by 1 cm chunk of skin off which then revealed a different layer of something else under what used to actually be skin, the burn also nearly paralyzed the joint which it fell on exactly in the middle of the space between nail and the knuckle and I was unable to move that joint at all until next day if I recall it correctly.

Thank you very much,


Answer
Hi James,

It sounds like a small second degree burn. But lets keep the burn clean with soap and water, then cover the the burn with neosporin and some sterile gauze. Change the guaze daily and make sure that you wash the burn area with soap and water. Then reapply neosporin and fresh sterile gause.

Figure about 10 to 14 days for the burn to heal superficialy. If any infection shows up see your doctor promptly.

Jim  

Burns

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Jim B

Expertise

I can answer a variety of questions concerning the physical care of burns and burn patients which commonly are of interest to both patients and their families. Also I may be helpful in suggesting lifestyle modifications which will help with a more complete recovery from a serious burn. I can also accept questions regarding the physical classifications of burns and the implications regarding the size, depth, and location of burns. What I cannot answer based on my own knowledge and experience I can refer to my current and former collegues in the field including the plastic and trauma surgeons and burn recovery organizations. In many of these cases I will provide a line of communication directly to a specific expert or organization. While I can describe general treatments routines with which I am experienced,I cannot answer questions dealing with specifuc diagnosis of conditions or problems. Additionally, please understand that the area of burn treatments is an experimental one in which there is constant progress and change. Each Burn Center invests a major effort in the development of new materials, treatments, medications, and techniques. In this area of constant change and growth no one can be fully aware of all treatment courses employed.

Experience

I am a licensed Paramedic and have also worked as a wound technician in a large regional Burn Center in a Trauma Level 1 hospital. I have experience in the areas of burn evaluation and care, both long-term and immediate first aid. I have also worked as a volunteer couselor with post-burn patients dealing with issues ranging from life-style changes to re-entering the world as a serious burn survivor.

Education/Credentials
BA Economics and Biology, AA Health Care Management, EMT-P licensed in Missouri, ABLS (Advanced Burn Life Support)qulification, ACLS-EP (Advanced Cardiac Life Support-Experienced Provider), Former National Ski Patrol Winter Emergency Care Instructor and Senior Evaluator, Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic Instructor.

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