Vol. 6 No 10
Oct. 29, 2014
Autumn … A Time to Watch for Burning and Burns F
ire-related accidents become more common in autumn when outdoor burning is more popular and more inside stoves and heaters are lit and, we hope, tended. Safe operation of wood stoves require maintenance such as emptying ash pans, cleaning stove pipes and chimneys and monitoring air-flow and ventilation. Accelerants such as grease, oil, gasoline, kerosene plastics or (unless it is outfitted for it) coal should never be added to the firewood in a wood stove. The flames produced may overwhelm the wood compartment and stove pipes and create a house fire. But even these precautions may not be enough, especially since the unforeseen often happens. In the “old days” people kept buckets of water or sand near their fireplace or wood stove. Today, there are fire extinguishers and many a housewife has a can of salt nearby to smother grease fires. Not only fires are a problem … those hot surfaces often lead to burns. Just as fire extinguishers replaced buckets of sand to extinguish unwanted flames, the home remedies for burns have changed. Those of you who are grandparents probably remember when it was thought best to cover a burn with butter or some other oil. You probably also remember how much it hurt! The burn was, then, carefully wrapped in gauze bandage as “the air” was thought to be bad for healing. In the fifties, it became common to “cool” the burn by running cold water over it. Ice was also used for more rapid cooling. It also became common to leave at least first-degree burns open to the air. Special bandages were developed for burns that had to be covered. Recently, firemen are being taught first to spray cold water on the affected area until the heat is reduced which stops the continued burning of all layers of the skin. Then, if no collagen-based salve is available and eggs are, they are to spread beaten egg whites onto the affected area.
The egg white is a natural collagen and it is now being suggested that if a first or even second-degree burn* occurs, a good home remedy is to cool the burn with cold water and then cover the burned area in beaten egg whites. The egg whites should be allowed to dry in place after which the area should receive a second layer of the egg white. A third and even fourth layer can be added. No bandages are necessary. The egg whites form a protective layer. The burned area will be regenerated thanks to the collagen in the egg whites, “a placenta full of vitamins”. So, keep an extra dozen or so handy for the burning season. (*Remember, it’s always wise to have a doctor take a look at a second-degree burn. The home remedy is only a good stopgap.)
Children’s Thanksgiving Prayers Thanksgiving Blessing - by Robbie, age 7
“Dear God, thank You for this food … for the turkey and the sweet potato and the giggly sweet red stuff. But, next time please forget the broccoli. Amen.”
Thanksgiving Prayer - by Sammy, age 8
“Father, thank You for this turkey, but not for that stuff Mom dug out of its stomach. I don’t know why the turkey ate it in the first place! Amen.”
Thanksgiving Blessing - by Marie, age 6
“Dear Father, thank You for our nice turkey dinner. And, please don’t let everybody else get all the white meat. I really don’t like the dark stuff! Maybe you could make turkey with more white meat next time? Amen.” Continued on page 7
Next issues: PLAIN PAGES (published in the Middlefield Post): Wednesday, Nov. 12. Deadline: Friday, Oct. 31. PLAIN COUNTRY: Wednesday, Nov. 26. Deadline: Friday, Nov. 14. See details on page 2.