Burn story with a good ending
Simple Remedy
I don't have any photos directly related with this story. The photo to the left is one of me and Andy during that time, in his monitor land tent, on the side of the Grandstand Stage.
I helped someone, named Steve, deal with a bad burn at the FingerLakes GrassRoots Festival one year. Steve was changing a propane tank in the hospitality barn, then lit the fryer, when it puffed out into his face, giving him a bad burn. The fire department first aid tent gave him an antibiotic ointment to apply. He could either apply that himself, or go to the hospital. It was late on GrassRoots Sunday Afternoon. The festival was almost over, so Steve chose to stay on the festival site instead of ending his GrassRoots in the hospital where they were just going to apply the same cream he was already applying.
I saw Steve sitting on a couch quietly behind the Grandstand stage, in the sound guy greenroom. Being sensitive to peoples physical states, I saw that his face was burned right away. He's a very pale person, with red hair. His face was very red, and the skin on his nose was beginning to spread and crack open. The cream glistened. I asked what happened and if he was alright. He explained how he got the burn and what the first aid folks suggested he do, which was to apply the cream and wait.
Good Water is key
1 Drop is Enough
I asked if he would like my help. He was very open to anything, since it hurt. Here's my burn remedy potion:
1 cup clean cool plain water in a clean cool cup or glass. It helps tremendously if the water is not chlorinated or fluoridated. Luckily, at the end of another wild GrassRoots Fest., we had a clean paper cup and some drinking water. I got my 1st aid kit out of my car, and put 1 drop of my Bulgarian Lavender Oil in the water, and swirled it around.
I always have clean cotton swabs in my 1st aid kit, too. I gently washed off the antibiotic cream with soap and water and dabbed dry his face, with a clean paper towel. Cotton is much better, but good luck finding a clean cotton towel at the end of a music festival. I did find a clean paper towel. Be very gentle with a paper towel...they can feel a bit rough in a situation like this.
I took a clean cotton swab and dipped it in the lavender water solution and gently dabbed it all over his face, carefully and gently dabbing up drips and avoiding his eyes and mouth. I did this every 30 minutes for several hours. In between dabbing, I asked him to sit quietly and enjoy the music, but not to get up and move around a lot. Also, please don't eat, smoke, or touch your face at all. If you need a drink, let it be water from a clean cup.
Every 30 minutes is critical
Timing is Everything
In-between my applications, I went to see some bands, say goodbye to my beloved friends I only saw once a year, and just mill around. I was back to Steve every 30 minutes, which is the critical part. Apply this remedy every 30 minutes. After the 3rd application, the split on his nose began to close up. I repeated the lavender water application 4-5 times in total.
By the time he went home, he was still tender, but the burn was no longer on fire eating up his skin. Good.
I packed up our gear and loaded the car. Andy was finishing packing up the stage after Keith Secola and His Wild Band of Indians. We finished off the festival with a labyrinth date, said our goodbyes to the sound crew in the dance tent and went home.
About a week later, Andy and I went to a party in Ithaca. Steve was there. His face looked fine. He was telling his burn story. Good festival drama can last for months. He said, by the next day, he was fine.
Lavender is amazing stuff. I always have some near my kitchen and in my 1st aid kit. It is not recommended to directly touch any essential oil, but to always mix it with a carrier, such as water or a natural oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil.