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View Full Version : Ever do something really (I mean REALLY) stupid?



bjt
07-01-2010, 04:36 PM
I did today. I was going to burn some branches from a tree I cut today and the fire flashed up at me while starting it and I got 2nd degree burns from my wrist to my bicep on my right arm. Now I have to take some time off of work and in using the vacation time, I may not have enough vacation left to go to Gatlinburg this fall. :( The arm stings and I singed the hair on my right leg and the right side of my face but I'm okay otherwise. Now I just need to take care of the bad burn so I don't get an infection.

IWN2RYD
07-01-2010, 04:51 PM
Very glad to read that your OK. It sounds like it could have been much worse.

A few years ago... Yeah I was this guy..... We had a five gallon bucket of water up against our home that was infested with mosquito larva.

The correct way to deal with this? Dump the water out of course!

But noooooooooooo... I had the weed eater gas in my hand and thought to myself... "I will burn these buggers out like I do with the kerosene for the ant's!!"...

Thinking of my safety, I place what I thought to be a very small amount of fuel in the bucket... dropped a match in the bucket and BOOM.... all my hair facing the bucket.. Gone!!!... 4' flames burning the bush next to the house... I reacted like any normal person would... I reached with my bare hands to knock over the bucket.. Yep.. Burned.. Oh and did I mention I spread the fire across the driveway?

Mind you I am a "Cough" retired fire fighter to boot!.... Ran into the house... Grabbed the Arm and Hammer... fixed the issue...

BTW.... Did I mention that my wife was laughing hysterically the entire time? She knew getting in the way was a bad idea... If you ask her about it today she starts that darn laughing all over again and it is hard to understand her... So this forces me to explain what happened... Only to"Fuel" the laughter to a larger crowd.. sigh:gaah::opps:

Oh.. And to add to it... Earlier that same day I piled up the yard leaves and decided I wanted to burn them in the ditch out front... Placed a "Little" fuel on them .... oh say about 30' worth.. lit the match... BOOOM.. put me on my butt.... Grabbed a shovel and started digging a path to keep the fire at bay... I wonder why my wife was laughing later that day? hmmmmm

retread
07-01-2010, 05:11 PM
Okay, as an ex foundry rat, I know a little about burns. First (and I know it's a little late for you guys), get them as cold as possible as fast as possible. Then get vitamin E capsules, biggest ones you can find, cut them open and spread the goo on the burn. The E works on bug bites and sunburn too.
Hope this helps.

john

bjt
07-01-2010, 05:21 PM
Okay, as an ex foundry rat, I know a little about burns. First (and I know it's a little late for you guys), get them as cold as possible as fast as possible. Then get vitamin E capsules, biggest ones you can find, cut them open and spread the goo on the burn. The E works on bug bites and sunburn too.
Hope this helps.

john

I immediately got into the house and started a cold shower and got in it. After about 2 - 3 minutes, I got out and called the wife and the doctor. Doctor told me to come right in and they immediately put thin towels in ice water and then laid those on my burns. They changed / re-wetted the towels every minute or two. Then I once again ran my arm under cold water in their sink until they were ready to bandage me. They removed the pieces of loose, dead skin and put a pretty healthy dose of Silver Sulfadiazine Cream on the burns and wrapped it with gauze bandages. Then I was sent home with a couple of prescriptions (pain, antibiotics, and more of the silver cream) and instructions on care of the wound and a return appointment on Tuesday. Right now, the pain is very tolerable and dltang is expected to be home from work in about an hour and she can baby me then. :)

NancysToy
07-01-2010, 05:46 PM
:yikes: Whatever are we going to do with you? They say self-inflicted wounds don't count.....but they still hurt like heck! Glad it didn't happen before Chicago. Heal fast!!!

Longlegs
07-01-2010, 06:18 PM
Dang dude hope you heal fast. Lucky you didnt get your hair burnt too.

COOLMACHINE
07-01-2010, 07:49 PM
That's terrible BJT! I can't imagine the pain you are going to have to endure till you heal. Maybe by sharing what happened to you, it will make the rest of us think before something similiar.
My parents had a friend 40 years ago that was BBQing when the fire went out. He thought he would just squirt some lighter fluid on it to get it going again. :lecturef_smilie:
Terrible burns and his face really got it bad. To this day, I still see idiots doing the same thing. Not me! Not on your life. nojoke

MoonChaser213
07-01-2010, 08:03 PM
I used to work with firefighters and I always wondered if they were all pyromaniacs at heart. And I think you just confirmed that :chill:

boborgera
07-01-2010, 08:18 PM
A few us were lighting off block busters, Fairly safe we own 1300 acres and we were in the middle of the property
Someone not saying who, comes up with a fantastic idea let's go down to our lake, [This was in January and the lake is frozen] tie one to a rock and drop it though a hole in the ice. In retrospect maybe we should have moved off the ice before it blew. Lucky the water was only 3 feet deep at that spot.
My old man would always say, Whats the sense of being stupid if you don't show it every now and then.

P/S= I got hit with just water, Fire now that's got to really hurt, Hope you heal quick.

NancysToy
07-01-2010, 08:58 PM
I was working on one of our dragsters one night, down in the pit pulling the pan off the Clutch-Flite. I was kind of tired and lazy, so I got a speed wrench and two long extensions, so I could work over my head but leave my hands near my waist. In loosening the oily bolts, the socket slipped of a stubborn one, and hit me in square the eyeball...at the end of a three foot long lever! I didn't cuss, or make a sound, I just slumped down and sat on the stairs. You know it hurts when you don't cuss! Went blind in that eye for a couple of weeks, after it filled with blood. Saturday night I kept choosing the lane with the bad eye, so I could see the tree with the other. The car owner though I was nuts, always choosing the same lane. I never told him the truth until I healed.

I hope sharing stories about stupid makes you feel a tiny bit better, Brian. :D We've all been there!

xpeschon
07-01-2010, 09:46 PM
I have had 3rd degree burns on my legs with I was in Saudia Arabia, I must admit a BURN is the most PAINFUL thing I have ever witness.. I wish you a speedy recovery Brian..

Joe
(X)

PS: I'm sure Deb will take GREAT care of you brother..

bjt
07-02-2010, 06:02 AM
Dang dude hope you heal fast. Lucky you didnt get your hair burnt too.

What little hair I have did get singed, especially my right eyebrow. :opps:

Trickie Dick
07-02-2010, 07:22 AM
I feel for you, man. Burns hurt like hell. I spilled burning grease on me and got 2nd and 3rd degree burns. 3 weeks in the hospital, debriding twice a day. NOT fun. Like you have already mentioned, watch out for infection.

Lamonster
07-02-2010, 07:39 AM
I can hear it now.
Deb-911 what is your emergency?
Brian- I was lighting some branches in my yard with gasoline and I got burnt.
Deb- (under her breath says "idiot") what is your location sir?
Brian- I'm at ***** ******, please hurry.
Deb- Honey is that you? :shocked:

dltang
07-02-2010, 08:04 AM
I can hear it now.
Deb-911 what is your emergency?
Brian- I was lighting some branches in my yard with gasoline and I got burnt.
Deb- (under her breath says "idiot") what is your location sir?
Brian- I'm at ***** ******, please hurry.
Deb- Honey is that you? :shocked:

http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-045.gif

sabunim5
07-02-2010, 09:13 AM
sorry to hear of your misfortune Brian. Best Wishes from Jan and I for an uneventful recovery. It stinks to spend your leave time healing instead of traveling.

Firefly
07-02-2010, 09:15 AM
"They removed the pieces of loose, dead skin and put a pretty healthy dose of Silver Sulfadiazine Cream on the burns"

:cus: OUCH !!!:yikes: That just sounds way painful! Get better soon!


At least he didn't call 911 and get Seth O.....: :D

Setho-911 what is your :cus: emergency?
Brian- I was lighting some branches in my yard with gasoline and I got burnt.
Setho- What the :cus: were you thinking? You need to get that :cus:ing arm under some cold :cus:ing water, right :cus:ing now!

:roflblack: (sorry Setho--- just couldn't help myself.... :joke:)

FIRE BAAAAAAAD!

frleo
07-02-2010, 09:19 AM
Stupid or NOT, burns are painful and dangerous. It is good you got medical attention and have a professional wife to aid and pamper you. I pray you heal quickly and can remain pain free.

Fr. Leo†

jwhatman
07-03-2010, 09:11 AM
Gee, reminds me of when hubby was going out to grill. He had the grill lid down to start his manly grill. he started it and let it warm up. I was laying on the couch inside,just watching him. He lifted the cover up and a wave of flame just rolled out of the grill and down to the ground. It quickly dissipated, but not before he singed his eyebrows, singed the hair on his forehead, eyelashes, and some hair on his legs, as he was wearing shorts. I jumped up and ran out there to make sure he was ok. I couldn't help laughing at him though. No skin was burned, but he stunk of singed hair. I made him shower after I checked him out. Now he checks it before doing anything. It must be a guy thing with fire.
Heal up and be careful.
Joyce

Longlegs
07-03-2010, 04:46 PM
How you doin so far Bro? Hope you're not hurtin too much.

Smylinacha
07-04-2010, 08:32 PM
Glad you are ok! That must have been quite a scare!

I do stupid things all the time. I learn from the stupid thing I did and then go on to the next stupid thing for me to do.;)

bjt
07-05-2010, 08:12 AM
How you doin so far Bro? Hope you're not hurtin too much.

I'm doing good. Taking my pain pills as prescribed and there isn't too much discomfort. Unfortunately, I just re-read my antibiotic prescription this morning and I was supposed to be taking 2 pills 2 times per day and I was only taking 1 pill 2 times per day. Hopefully I don't end up getting an infection because of that mistake. I go to the doctor tomorrow and she'll tell me how things are looking from a professional's perspective. :pray:

bjt
07-05-2010, 08:17 AM
Glad you are ok! That must have been quite a scare!

I do stupid things all the time. I learn from the stupid thing I did and then go on to the next stupid thing for me to do.;)

I was scared when I saw the damage to my arm. It's nice to have time off of work but we could really use the money I was scheduled to make with some overtime as we just got the summer tax bills on our house plus two rental properties. :yikes: Hopefully the doctor will give me a good report tomorrow and I'll be able to at least show up for my normal work instead of burning all my vacation and sick days on this.

docdoru
07-05-2010, 08:19 AM
Unfortunately, I just re-read my antibiotic prescription this morning and I was supposed to be taking 2 pills 2 times per day and I was only taking 1 pill 2 times per day.
Not good...:yikes:

ataDude
07-05-2010, 11:31 AM
...instead of burning all my vacation and sick days on this.

:yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:

Some Guy
07-05-2010, 11:56 AM
Glad to hear you're going to be OK. It could have been MUCH worse. A couple years ago my friend's father was out at the farm's burn barrel burning trash. A spark jumped out and started a small grass fire. He instinctively stomped on it and his polyester jump suit caught on fire. He rolled to put it out, but that caused the polyester to fuse to his skin. He had burns on his whole body (except for his feet). He lived for 2 hours afterward. :(

Vordak
07-06-2010, 07:27 AM
Been there done that, got my *SIGN*.

Wet leaves, wouldn't burn.

Dumbass (me) adds a gallon of 89 octane gasoline and lights a match...

WOOOOOF! No eyebrows, no bangs, no beard, no arm hair and no hair on the front of my legs.

Wife: "You idiot, what were you thinking!"

Me: "Thinking? Was that required?"

:lecturef_smilie:

V.

bjt
07-07-2010, 06:35 PM
So far so good with the arm. It doesn't look very good but the doctor is pleased with the progress of the healing and is still saying how lucky I am that it isn't worse. :thumbup:

NancysToy
07-07-2010, 08:29 PM
Good to hear!!!

BajaRon
07-07-2010, 10:14 PM
Really sorry to hear about your injury! Being in the fire service for 33 years I can really respect a burn. Never suffered anything bad but I did see some pretty gruesome burns. Burn is supposed to be one of the most painful injuries a person can have.

Hope you recover quickly. Taking care of it is crucial but I'm sure you know that.

When the conditions are right the explosive cloud can expand several yards beyond where the gas is poured.

I've seen a guy walking towards a burn pile with a match or lighter after pouring gasoline on it and the whole thing erupt into a ball of fire from 25 feet away! :yikes:

Firemen may be brave but they aren't necessarily very smart sometimes!

It helps to have fire gear on but it doesn't make you invincible!

bjt
07-08-2010, 05:04 AM
When the conditions are right the explosive cloud can expand several yards beyond where the gas is poured.

I now know that to be true. nojoke The fireball that got me was probably 4 - 5 feet long, much farther away from the spot where the gas was actually applied.

BajaRon
07-08-2010, 03:36 PM
I now know that to be true. nojoke The fireball that got me was probably 4 - 5 feet long, much farther away from the spot where the gas was actually applied.

Yep, I was afraid of that. People get away with it because as I said, the condtions have to be right. You can do it many times and nothing happens. But then you hit it right and the results are impressive.

Glad you are going to be ok. I've seen it much worse.

boborgera
07-08-2010, 03:57 PM
Yep, I was afraid of that. People get away with it because as I said, the condtions have to be right. You can do it many times and nothing happens. But then you hit it right and the results are impressive.


:D
Hey, let's face it ; If every time somebody died doing some thing Stupid, there would be nobody left to do Stupid things,
I know I've done my share.
Sometimes you get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear gets you.:yikes:

Roaddog2
07-08-2010, 05:57 PM
I can hear it now.
Deb-911 what is your emergency?
Brian- I was lighting some branches in my yard with gasoline and I got burnt.
Deb- (under her breath says "idiot") what is your location sir?
Brian- I'm at ***** ******, please hurry.
Deb- Honey is that you? :shocked::2thumbs: Glad your kind of OK BJT :doorag:

BajaRon
07-18-2010, 11:24 PM
How are you coming along with this BJT?

bjt
07-19-2010, 07:11 AM
Good. The skin is really pink and just slightly tender. I only put on the dressing when I go to work. Other than that, I just keep it clean, protected and out of the sun. I thought I would have my last doctors appointment regarding this last Thursday but they want me to come back in two weeks just to be sure it's good.

BajaRon
07-19-2010, 09:26 PM
Good. The skin is really pink and just slightly tender. I only put on the dressing when I go to work. Other than that, I just keep it clean, protected and out of the sun. I thought I would have my last doctors appointment regarding this last Thursday but they want me to come back in two weeks just to be sure it's good.

With 2nd degree burns infection is the major problem. If you keep it clean and the infection problem under control you should get OEM skin back (which is by far better than any aftermarket product out there).

2nd degree is also the most painful of the 3 burn severities so I sympathize....

Glad you're healing up well. I assume no Canada / Magog trip for you guys?

bjt
07-20-2010, 08:19 AM
We're not going to Canada / Magog but not because of my arm. Financially, we just can't make every large Spyder event. We try saving up (vacation time and money) for what we consider the big 3, SpyderFest in Cuba, the BRP Owner's event and Lamonster's BBQ. As far as my arm and riding, I could do back to back ironbutts right now. :D

BajaRon
07-20-2010, 09:49 PM
We're not going to Canada / Magog but not because of my arm. Financially, we just can't make every large Spyder event. We try saving up (vacation time and money) for what we consider the big 3, SpyderFest in Cuba, the BRP Owner's event and Lamonster's BBQ. As far as my arm and riding, I could do back to back ironbutts right now. :D

Well, glad to hear your arm is doing good. Not too happy about no Canada but I understand. On the other hand my wife says; "It's only money". But that is usually just before (or after) she spends a bunch of it! :yikes:

Good thing I'm rich! (NOT!)

Still, once you're broke it really doesn't matter how much more you spend.