Myths and Truths About First Aid in the Kitchen

Kitchen injuries are very common, especially when the whole family is at home preparing for the holidays. But do you know what to do in case of a burn or cut? Could you have deeply ingrained misconceptions that do more harm than good?

“When we or a loved one burns their hand with hot water or cuts themselves with a knife, we want to do everything we can to relieve the pain. However, many of the methods commonly used by the public are wrong and not only do they not promote wound healing, but they actually undermine it,” says Dr. Markos Michelakis, Dermatologist-Venereologist (Aesthetic Dermatology-Dermatosurgery). “The first mistake is that we always want to administer first aid ourselves. This will depend on the severity of the injury, because some should not be touched. Beyond that, there are many mistakes that can be made because there are equally many myths that prevail.”

A burn, for example, that someone might get in the kitchen can come from water, food, or worse, oil. The burns that can be treated at home are mainly first-degree burns, where the skin is red, painful, covers a small area (up to the size of one palm), may have one or two blisters, but still feels normal.

If the skin has many blisters, is white or darker in some areas, dry, numb, and/or has an open wound, it needs medical attention. Immediate medical care is required for any burn located:

• On the face, chest, or lower abdomen
• Near a joint (e.g., knee, shoulder, fingers)
• Around a part of the body (e.g., around the arm)

Of course, large burns (larger than the size of your palm) and deep burns also require urgent medical attention.

Similarly, with cuts, it’s one thing to scrape your hand with a knife and another to cut deeply and see the tissue beneath the skin.

Mr. Michelakis lists some of the most common myths about first aid in the kitchen and explains the truth, so you can turn your kitchen into a safe space for the whole family.

Myth: If you get a burn, put butter on it.

The truth: The last thing you need on a burn is butter, mayonnaise, oil, petroleum jelly, or any other fatty substance. This will trap heat in the skin and worsen the damage.

To treat a small, superficial burn, remove rings or other objects from the area (do this quickly before the area swells). Then, run cool water (low flow) over the affected area for at least 10 minutes. Once it has eased, you can gently apply an antibiotic cream or a burn-specific ointment. Then cover the burn with a sterile dressing. Do not use an elastic bandage: the covering should be loose, not tight.

If it hurts, try cold compresses (cloths soaked in cold water). If blisters appear, the color changes, or it looks infected, consult a doctor.

Mild burns take about a week to heal. If time passes and you see no improvement, see your doctor.

For a large burn, cover it with a clean cloth soaked in cold water and call your doctor.

Myth: Ice can quickly relieve burn pain.

The truth: The only case where ice can help is if you put a few ice cubes in a basin of tap water and immerse the burned hand. Applying ice directly on the burn will intensify the pain. Leaving an ice cube on the skin can even cause frostbite.

Myth: Break the blisters so they heal faster.

The truth: You should never break blisters. This interrupts the body’s natural healing process and increases the risk of infection. If a blister opens on its own, rinse it with clean water (optionally with soap) and apply a little antibiotic ointment.

Myth: If you cut yourself with a knife, pour hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound.

The truth: Although hydrogen peroxide can disinfect a cut, it can also damage healthy skin cells, hindering the skin’s ability to heal and promoting scar formation. It is better to wash the wound with soap and water and then cover it with a sterile adhesive bandage. If the cut bleeds heavily, you may need to apply pressure with a clean gauze for a few minutes until the bleeding stops. If the wound is deep and you think stitches are needed, see a doctor.

Myth: A wound heals better if left uncovered.

The truth: This is an old belief. Skin cells need moisture and protection from new injuries and infections, and nerve endings—which are the source of pain—also need protection. Therefore, cover the wound with a sterile adhesive bandage or non-stick gauze.

Myth: Don’t remove the adhesive bandage from the wound. Let it fall off on its own.

The truth: It was once believed that changing the bandage slows healing. In reality, this only increases moisture in the wound, which hinders healing. The bandage should be changed once or twice a day after washing the wound with soap and water.

Myth: As soon as a scab forms, remove it immediately.

The truth: You should never remove a scab. The body forms it to protect the underlying tissue and aid healing. Removing it reopens the wound and can ultimately lead to a more noticeable scar.

Myth: If your skin freezes, pour hot water on it.

The truth: If your child holds ice cubes in their hands for a long time and they freeze, never pour hot water over them, as this could burn them. Gradually restore their temperature by immersing the hands in a basin of tolerably warm water.

https://www.youriowalawyers.com/blog/2020/august/burn-myths/

https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/kitchen-first-aid

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/first-aid-myths-ignore-summer-cures

https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/first-aid-myths-ignore-summer-cures

https://www.healthyway.com/content/dont-butter-your-burns-and-7-other-medical-misconceptions/

https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/first-aid-myths-and-misconceptions

https://www.healthing.ca/wellness/first-aid-myths-butter-on-burns-and-other-tales