2.23.2010

425 Degrees


I burned my hand. Badly. Well, not badly badly...the burn on my ego is probably worse. How did I do this you may ask? Lest you think I rescued a kitten from a burning barn, the tale is filled with absent-mindedness, idiocy with a thick coat of shame.

I had just baked some cheese bread and took it out of the oven with my right hand (which was protected by an oven mit - safety first.). I slid the cheese bread onto another baking sheet to cool, but it slid just a bit off the sheet to the counter. "Not a problem", I say to myself, "I'll just use my mitted hand to slide it back on the sheet". Without thinking, I simply transferred the lava-hot metal baking sheet to my unprotected, un-mitted left hand.

Screams followed, the pan slammed on the floor and I raced to the sink and doused my hand in icy water. I didn't cry...but man, I really wanted to. It hurt SO bad. I called Cody at the station and he told me a few things I could try to help ease the pain, but basically I would have to grin and bear it. And really quick, what is that all about? 'Grin and bear it'? Smile through the horrific pain? Whatever, 'swear and bear it' is more like it. Moving on...

Luckily my dearest friend Mindi came to the rescue! Medical kit in hand! Hurrah for having paramedic friends. She coated the burns (which were on the tips of my fingers, a big one on my index finger and a blistering one between by thumb and index finger) with burn gel and wrapped my hand. I kept an ice packet on it until I fell asleep and was able to unwrap my mummy hand this morning. My fingertips looks completely fine, no pain there. The big burn on my index finger is a little tender and the other burn still has a few blisters, but not bad. I got second-degree burns, but lets be honest - it could have been so much worse. It might scar, and if someone asks how I got it? "Oh, the craziest thing, I saw smoke coming from a barn..."

7 comments:

Andrea said...

Ugh!! Burns are one of the worst pains to endure. I'm sorry that happened to you. I have done the same thing (the hot sheet hand transfer). Luckily our bodies are amazing and even though burns hurt to the high heavens, it always amazes me how quickly we blister and that it can heal inside my skin carefully.
And hey, you're still typing so hooray for your right hand working! :) Hang in there! xo

sue-donym said...

I'm so sorry. You need a week at a spa to help recover, don't you.

"Swear and bear it". My new theme for life.

kateastrophe said...

OW! I'm glad Mindi could save you.

I do that kind of crap ALL THE TIME. Once I grabbed the oven rack trying to stir with my other mittened hand. Go me!

Love you and your mitten hand!

Tayva said...

Oh, dear! Let's be honest---it's a crazy hurt and that sounds like a bad burn. It's always worse when you think you could have avoided it, but that type of thing happens to 'moms' a lot---it's just so easy to get distracted! I'm glad you're on the mend. XO!! (p.s. Should we all put Mindi on speed-dial?!)

glenda said...

Yep thats your story and your sticke'n to it-you saved a kitty from a burning barn ) I hope it heals fast

Mindi said...

There is nothing I love more, than to rescue a cheese bread hand in distress. Let's um, get those oven mitt's on both hands for a while, lest I come to wrap you another. I heart you madly, and would DIE if your poor hand was any worse! For how would we race around Ross chasing the lady who snagged ma purchase??

Jen said...

Yowza! Burns are the worst! My little sister got 2nd and 3rd degree burns on her foot when a pot of boiling water fell on her foot when she was 7. It's nasty, painful stuff!

Your friend is awesome to come to your rescue!