
Thayer Allyson Gowdy
A Guide to Summertime Emergencies
Real Simple's tips can help you make informed decisions about the season's ills and spills.
A Barbecue Burn
What it is: Assuming you didn't pass out on top of the barbecue, this burn is likely to be partial thickness (formerly classified as a first-degree or minor second-degree burn).
What to do at home:
- Cool water will make the burn feel better. Don't use ice (which can cause further injury to a severe burn) or butter (which doesn't do anything).
- Clean the burn with soap and water.
- Apply an antibiotic cream and a bandage.
- Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
Seek immediate help:
- If the burn is bigger than the size of your palm (your palm is about 1 percent of your body's surface area). You're likely to need a prescription pain reliever, and a doctor should make sure the burn is clean and cover it with a sterile dressing.
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Quick Tip
To get grout gleaming without scrubbing, leave paper towels soaked in bleach on grimy or moldy areas for at least 12 hours. Grout and caulking will sparkle afterward. Get more tips.




