Prevent Burn Injuries This Thanksgiving

Avoid hazardous burns in the kitchen and beyond with practical tips and know when to seek ER care based on burn severity.

We see it happen every year — especially around the holidays. As families gather in the kitchen to prepare Thanksgiving meals, the risk of burn injuries increases significantly. Hundreds of patients of all ages are admitted to the hospital with burn injuries, ranging from minor to severe. With the right prevention, you can take some simple steps to make any environment safe from basic burns.

Burn injuries are unique because, unlike most injuries, they can happen at any time, at any place, and in multiple forms. However, for the most part, burns are preventable. On average, 400,000 people are medically treated annually for burn injuries, with the majority of patients under the age of four and around 65. 

What is a burn injury?

A burn injury is any damage to the skin or tissue cells caused by contact with heat, radiation, electricity, or chemicals. Burns are broken down into four levels of severity to classify the type and treatment of the burn. The higher the number, the more severe the burn. 

Four Categories of Severity of Burns 

• First-Degree Burn: This type of burn only affects the outer layer of skin, like a mild sunburn from laying out in the sun for too long. The injured area of the skin may appear red and painful, but there will be no blisters or lacerations. The injury usually heels quickly with no medical attention needed. 
• Second-Degree Burn: In a second-degree burn, the outer layer of skin and the layer underneath is damaged. The affected skin area will appear bright red and swollen and may look shiny and wet due to blistering. Most likely, the burn will be painful and may need prescribed topical medication or pain medication to help with the injury healing. The injury may or may not leave a scar. It is recommended that the affected receive medical attention. 
• Third-Degree Burn: This type of burn is sometimes referred to as a “full-thickness burn.” A third-degree burn destroys two full layers of skin down to the tissue. The site of the injury may appear black, brown, white, or yellow, accompanied by a feeling of numbness. Patients with third-degree burns must seek medical attention immediately, usually requiring treatment like a skin graft. 
• Fourth-Degree Burn: This is the most severe type of burn. The burn injury is typically deep and life-threatening, destroying all layers of skin, fat, nerves, bones, muscles, and tendons at the site of injury. The intensity of this type of burn removes all feelings from the area. Those affected must seek immediate medical treatment and will likely have a long recovery process featuring rehabilitation. 

Common Mistakes in Burn Injury Treatment 

It is equally important to know what not to do if you or a loved one gets burned to reduce the risk of grim consequences. 

1. Do not put ice on the injury site. It may feel good to run cold water or put ice on a burn site, but this will cause more harm than good. A cold injury, on top of a heat injury, can disrupt the body’s healing process. 
2. Do not resort to home remedies. Using basic at-home items like mayonnaise or toothpaste on burns for healing is not correct and may halt the body’s natural healing process. A better option is an over-the-counter first-aid or prescription burn cream.
3. Do not pop burn blisters. Burn blisters should be drained and dressed by medical professionals. This protects the skin underneath. 
4. Do not ask for or take antibiotics. Taking antibiotics to prevent infection of the burn injury will only disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the body and halt the healing process. A topical solution on the injury site will protect the injured person from infection.
5. Do not let the look of your burn wound deceive you. On the surface, a burn wound may not look as bad as it is. It is crucial to receive medical attention to address the injury before possibly facing long-term consequences. 

Basic Safety Tips to Avoid Burn Injuries

There are many causes of burn injuries. The most common burns in the ER occur in the home, however, burn injuries can happen anywhere and be caused by many things – fire, heated objects, electricity, chemicals, and more. 

Here are some simple steps to take to prevent burn injuries: 

• Practice kitchen safety basics like never leaving cooking food unattended and turning the pots and pans handle on the stove to the back. 
• Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have working batteries. 
• Do not use electrical appliances near water. 
• Proceed with caution when around open flames. 
• Wear protective goggles when using chemicals. 

For a complete list of burn prevention tips, click here. 

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips to Avoid Burns  

Thanksgiving is one of the most food-centric holidays of the year, and with more cooking comes a higher risk of burns. From hot oil to boiling liquids to crowded kitchens, burn injuries are among the most common holiday-related ER visits during Thanksgiving week.

In 2016, over 36,000 people were treated in ERs for injuries on Thanksgiving Day. Each year, thousands of ER visits on Thanksgiving involve cooking-related accidents, including burns and cuts.

Here are a few precautions to help keep you and your loved ones safe in the kitchen:

• Never leave cooking food unattended, especially when frying or broiling.
• Use extreme caution with turkey fryers. Hot oil can reach temperatures over 350°F, leading to severe burns in seconds.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from cooking areas.
• Turn pot and pan handles inward to prevent accidental tipping.
• Use oven mitts, not towels, when handling hot dishes.
• Keep hot liquids away from the edges of counters and tables.
• Have a fire extinguisher accessible and know how to use it.

The safest way to avoid burns while cooking Thanksgiving dinner is to stay alert, maintain a clean and organized kitchen, and follow proper cooking techniques, especially when working with hot oil or open flames.

If you or a loved one experiences a burn injury, no matter the severity, seek immediate medical attention. East Valley ER & Hospital, your trusted neighborhood hospital, is open 24/7 throughout the holiday season to provide the expert care you and your family deserve.

We wish you a Happy, Healthy, and Safe Thanksgiving! 

Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, East Valley ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.