Most Thanksgiving health warnings tend to focus on how to curb overeating to avoid gaining weight throughout the holiday season, but The Burn Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital (SJCH) wants to remind the community that what often skirts the spotlight are the more serious accidents or health hazards that can bring tragedy to families and send loved ones to the hospital.
More cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. Here are a few tips from SJCH on how to avoid burns and how to treat ones that are unavoidable.
1. Should a burn minor burn occur (only covers a small area of the body):
- Calm the burn with cool water for 15-20 minutes
- Leave blisters intact
- Protect the area from heat, sun and dirt
- Wash wound gently with mild soap and water
2. Do not put butter, toothpaste, mayonnaise or anything similar on a burn
- This may cause infection
- Seek immediate medical attention if pain, swelling or redness increases, a fever is present, the victim is less than two years old or the burn looks white or leathery
3. If deep frying a turkey, carefully read and follow all the safety instructions provided with the fryer
4. Lacerations (cuts) are a common injury seen in the ER. If an injury occurs:
- Wash the cut with soap and water
- Put pressure on it with a clean gauze to stop or control bleeding
- If the cut is longer than a centimeter, your finger or hand feels numb or you see tissue coming from the wound, you may need stitches
- If the person feels dizzy or weak, lay them down and call 911
