Safety and Education - Part 2- Kinky First Aid - Burns

Hello fellow kinky friends!

It's me, you're resident medical advisor to keep you safe while having fun!
Disclaimer- I am not a pro/experienced kinky person (yet) but I have a medical background- this series is generalised medical principles with a kinky twist to help you all find safe, reliable information to keep you all playing happy!

Todays topic - Kinky First Aid - for Burns!

As valentines is approaching the candles are due to come out to play! so lets talk about safety when dealing with things that can burn!

Candles/ Wax Play
Candles and wax play is very fun! However, there is safety required when doing so. Firstly - if you're playing with naked flames and hot wax - ensure you have no flammable body products (moisturisers especially!) - No human torches please!

So what candles to use for wax play?

• Generally - especially for new-comers try and source some body safe candles - found on amazon, etsy and likely any sextoy/ kink store - These candles are made with wax that burns at lower temperatures - still hot but not going to cause harm! - they're not expensive and its worth it for the safety - they also come in all colours and UV colours!
• If you're using standard candles USE WHITE CANDLES - pigmented standard candles burn much much hotter because of the colouring additives and are more likely to cause burns

How to use wax safely

• let the wax melt a bit and blow the candle out when pouring - you can relight it for more wax after
• start with a good height above the skin you're pouring wax on - the higher your pour the less 'hot' it feels - its good to start high and adjust the pouring height with your partner as to avoid causing a burn from the start and then its all over
• be sensible with where you target - start with less sensitive areas until you're both comfortable with the right height and sensations before moving on to riskier places

Keep Naked flames away from flammable things! and make sure if you've put it down it's secure and not going to be knocked over - No Burning down houses please

HOW TO RECOGNISE AND MANAGE BURNS
So despite your best attempts at following the above safety - something went wrong and now someone has a burn.

Recognising Burns

• Burns HURT - if it hurts - STOP and check the skin/ wound.
• APPLY COOL (NOT COLD!) water - run continuously under cool water for at least 20 minutes / under a tap or a shower - not in a container of water.
• After the wound is cooled - Apply CLEAN CLINGFILM AROUND THE BURN
  • Infection is the biggest risk associated with burns
  • Cling film is none-sticky and a great tool for keeping out bugs
  • Do not wrap tightly - cover the wound but leave the area able to swell without causing more harm
  • DO NOT APPLY STICKY DRESSINGS/ BAND AIDS/ PLASTERS - the skin is damaged and these can break the skin on removal.
  • DO NOT APPLY ANY CREAMS/ BUTTER (dangerous old wives advice) to the burn - only cool water and specialised burns dressings if you have any.
• Assess the skin - There are 3 levels of burns
  • 1st Degree - Mildest level burn - this skin will be red and sore but intact - This level of burn is just the outermost layer of skin
  • 2nd Degree - PAINFUL and Blistering may be visible. -This burn is deeper than a 1st degree and involves several layers of skin
  • 3rd Degree - MOST SEVERE - NOT PAINFUL BUT ++++ BLISTERS. if the skin is red, blistered and not painful - BE VERY CONCERNED. Immediately seek medical help! -The Skin may appear dark or white with a 3rd degree or full thickness burn.
• Size Matters
  • outside of a 3rd degree burn which regardless of size is an immediate trip to A&E - checking the size of the burn is very very important in knowing if you need urgent help
  • 5% rule
    • if a second or 1st degree burn is >5% of total body surface --> SEEK URGENT HELP -- 'but Rainy, what does 5% body surface mean?' - excellent question: 5% body surface is equivalent to that persons palm --> It's an easy assessment to decide if this burn needs medical review.
• LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
  • Location of the burn can also mandate if urgent medical attention is needed outside of severity and size.
  • Seek Urgent medical attention for any burn on the
    • Face
    • Genitals
    • Neck
    • Hands
    • Feet
    • Over a Joint

How to Care for burns after immediate first aid

• Keep all burns clean and dry
• Monitor the skin for signs of infection.
  • Early Signs: increasing redness, seeping discharge (clear or thick liquid coming out), swelling, and increasing pain.
  • Late signs include fever, and feeling very unwell.
  • ANY OF THESE SIGNS INDICATE INFECTION - infection (again) is the biggest risk post burn as it damages the skin integrity and the skins immune defences. Burns get infected very very easily even if you keep it clean and dry and try your best.
  • SEEK Immediate medical attention if you think a burn is infected.

SIDE NOTE:
- Burns can also be caused from electrical play and chemicals. Regardless - the same advise applies. Cool the skin with cool not cold water for 20 minutes (30 minutes if its a chemical burn to help dilute the chemical off the skin and then cool the burn). and assess in the same way with the same trigger points for medical attention.

I hope you all have a wonderfully kinky valentines and keep those candles burning! (but safely)