Don’t let your holiday be ruined by careless accidents

While you might think overeating is the biggest hazard of Thanksgiving, there’s another one: fires and burns.

Thanksgiving is the No. 1 day for kitchen fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association – an almost 400 percent increase over other days. That also means Thanksgiving is a day with an increased risk of burns.

Are you up to date on how to treat burns and when to seek professional help?

We asked Molly Malone, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Cape Cod Hospital’s emergency department and Cape Cod Healthcare’s Urgent Care centers for advice. (Her answers have been edited for length.)

Could you start by explaining the difference among first-, second- and third-degree burns?

It has to do with burn depth. When they are very superficial, we call it a first-degree burn, and usually that is an area that looks red and is “blanchable” – when you press on it, it turns white and then the redness comes back. Typically, a first-degree burn will not blister.

With second-degree burns, there often will be a blister, and they still blanch when you press on them.

A third-degree burn may just appear white. It is typically not painful because the depth of this burn may affect the nerves in our skin layers. If it’s painful, it’s actually a better sign because it means the burn has not penetrated as deeply.

How should I treat a simple first-degree burn?

If the burn is thought to be superficial, we recommend cooling it under water, cleaning it well with soap, applying a thin layer of Bacitracin, followed by a dressing like a Band-Aid. If your tetanus is not up to date, you should have it updated as soon as possible. A burn disrupts the protective layer that the skin provides to the outside world therefore it puts you at higher risk of infections, one of which is tetanus.

What about treatment for pain?

Run the affected area under cool water immediately after the burn. You can also put an ice pack on it, but we don’t want ice to sit on it too long because it can cause the blood vessels to constrict, which can actually work against wound healing. So, put ice on and off for periods of time. An over-the-counter pain reliever, like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, will also help with minor burns.

When should I go to urgent care or the emergency department?

If you are concerned there might be a third-degree burn or, if it covers a significant area, say, your entire arm, it’s a good idea to go to the ER. This applies to adults and children. When burns go around an entire limb, scarring can happen and cause constriction to the area. These patients should be seen immediately, so they can be referred to a burn center. Also, if the burn crosses a major joint, such as an elbow joint or knee joint, we might want to have that evaluated sooner rather than later.

Another time to be assessed in the ER is if there was a fire and there is concern for inhalation injury and airway compromise. Signs to look for may be voice changes, throat feeling itchy or scratchy, coughing, feeling of swelling of mouth or throat, feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or short of breath. If you experience any of these symptoms or are worried that you may be developing them or other worrisome symptoms, please seek evaluation.

Any kitchen tips that would cut down on burns?

If you are cooking on the stove and you have a pot, make sure the handle is always pointed toward the back of the stove, so that a child can't just reach up and pull it down. Make sure there is nothing that a young child may be able to easily climb on top of to reach the stove. If you are making coffee or tea, just make sure that as it steeps, the cup is towards the back of the counter. These incidents are fairly common and are easily preventable.

What other kinds of issues and injuries do you see on Thanksgiving?

We see more hand injuries that occur when carving turkeys, cutting potatoes and other vegetables, as well as mandolin injuries. We also see a lot of people who suffer from heart issues, particularly congestive heart failure. Eating a lot of salty foods can sometimes cause patients’ symptoms to flare up.

Also, car accidents involving drinking and driving often increase over holidays. People are with their families, have a full stomach and a few drinks, and think they are still safe to drive home. We urge people to be cautious and err on the side of caution when driving after holiday get-togethers.