During the holidays, people tend to find themselves in the kitchen more often than the rest of the year combined. And because holiday cooking is usually accompanied by stress and rushing, you’re less likely to take the standard kitchen safety precautions necessary to prevent injuries. Oven and stovetop cooking burns are common, with victims ranging from novices to expert chefs. And while most burns are trivial enough for at-home care, some may pose a serious health issue. Keep reading to learn how to treat an oven burn, how to protect your skin, and when to see a doctor.Â
The first step to treating a burn is figuring out the severity. Most kitchen burns aren’t very serious, but being able to self-diagnose whether you have a first, second, or third-degree burn helps determine the best course of action.Â
When you’re preparing a meal, it’s easy to get swept up in the actual preparation and forget to observe basic safety practices. In order to avoid getting burned skin in the kitchen, you should:Â
If you have suffered from first or second-degree burns and think it is treatable at home, then your first step should be to remove yourself from the source of the burn without further injuring yourself or others. Put down the hot pan on a safe surface or remove the clothes soaked with boiling water immediately. Then apply cool (not cold) running water. You may need to use a wet compress if you don’t have access to a sink or hose.
Don’t feed into old burn remedies like butter or occlusive creams. These may actually make your burn worse. Instead, apply an antiseptic or antibiotic ointment like Betadine to prevent infection. After, you need to cover the burn. Protect the burn by covering the outer layer of skin with a loose, non-adhesive bandage or cloth. You may also want to take over-the-counter pain medication to help with any discomfort in the affected area.
If you think that you are suffering from a third or fourth-degree burn, you need to seek medical attention immediately. These types of burns cause permanent damage to the skin, increase the likelihood of infection, and may even be life-threatening. The best course of action in this instance would be to call 911 and go straight to an emergency facility.Â
If you have a more minor burn that seems to be getting increasingly painful or swollen, you may have an infection and should proceed to a doctor for further care. Should the burn occur on the hands, feet, face, or genitals, seek treatment immediately regardless of the severity.
Burns can be worrying, but Village Emergency Centers are here to help! If you need emergency care, continued treatment for a burn, or simply want to learn how to treat an oven burn at home, do not hesitate to contact or visit us today!
Victoria Alexander M.D.
Dr. Victoria Alexander graduated Medical School from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. In 1993, she completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Before joining Village Emergency Centers, Dr. Alexander served as Director of Park Plaza Hospital Emergency Department for 5 years. Dr. Alexander has over 29 years of diverse experience, especially in Emergency Medicine.