Did You Get Burned While Preparing Holiday Food? Ignoring It Can Lead to Trouble

Neglect Increases Risk of Complications and Aftereffects
Professional Treatment According to Symptoms Is Essential

In her 30s, Ms. A, who lives in Seoul, visited her hometown in Ulsan during the Chuseok holiday for the first time in a while and enjoyed making holiday dishes with her family. While chatting with her family and preparing fried food, she accidentally dropped her chopsticks, causing hot cooking oil to splash onto her hand and burn her. Preoccupied with preparing the food, Ms. A dismissed the injury as minor and carried on.

After drinking with friends late into the evening and returning to Seoul the next day, Ms. A noticed a large blister on her hand and, feeling concerned, visited a hospital to receive belated treatment.

Caution: Burns from Fried Foods. Provided by Clipart Korea (Not related to the report)

Every year during the holidays, the number of patients visiting hospitals due to burns sustained while cooking, like Ms. A, increases. According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2020, the average daily number of burn patients visiting emergency medical centers due to accidents during the Chuseok holiday period more than doubled, rising from the usual 90 cases per day to 221 cases per day during the holiday.

A burn is defined as damage to the skin and soft tissues caused by fire, hot water, electricity, chemicals, and similar sources. During holidays, patients visit hospitals for burns caused by various sources, including hot water used in food preparation, heated pots or electric grills, hot steam from pressure cookers, and, as in Ms. A's case, hot cooking oil used for frying. If the burn is not severe, it should be cooled under running cold water and treated at a nearby hospital.

Generally, burns are classified from first-degree to fourth-degree, depending on the symptoms. A first-degree burn occurs on the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis, resulting in redness, swelling, and pain, but no blisters. Cooling the area with running water and applying a moisturizer to protect the damaged skin usually allows for healing without complications or aftereffects.

If the burn is deeper and damages the upper dermis beneath the epidermis, blisters, pain, and swelling may occur. This is classified as a second-degree burn. If only part of the dermis is affected, epithelial regeneration typically occurs within about two weeks. However, if the burn is deeper and reaches the lower dermis, sensation may be lost, the skin may appear pale, and recovery can take up to four weeks. Scarring may remain even after recovery.

Third-degree burns and above, which require specialized burn treatment, involve damage to the entire dermis and subcutaneous tissue, causing the skin to turn white or black, and nerve damage may result in a lack of pain. A fourth-degree burn is a severe condition that damages body tissues such as muscles, nerves, and bones along with the skin. In such cases, emergency services (119) should be called so the patient can be quickly transported to the hospital. The longer emergency treatment is delayed and the wider and deeper the affected area, the longer the treatment period, and surgery or skin grafting may be necessary.

Most people tend to take burns lightly, referring to them as simply being "scalded," but if the burn is deep and covers a large area, various complications can occur, and in severe cases, it can be fatal, so caution is needed. In the early stages of a burn, significant fluid loss can lead to complications such as low blood pressure, arrhythmia, impaired kidney function, liver dysfunction, and shock. The risk of infection from external bacteria and microorganisms also increases. If burns occur on joint areas such as fingers, wrists, toes, or ankles, even small burns can cause the tissue to contract and harden during recovery, potentially limiting joint movement.

Bae Kangho, a surgeon at Ulsan Elijah Hospital, stated, "Burns are much more closely related to our daily lives than most people think, yet it is rare for people to seek hospital treatment or pay attention to proper care." He added, "Some people attempt home remedies using soju, soybean paste, potatoes, and other folk methods, believing burns will heal naturally or that burn treatment is expensive. However, these methods carry a high risk of infection and complications and should never be used."

Dr. Bae also said, "Sometimes people try to pop blisters that form immediately after a burn using sharp objects like needles without proper sterilization, but this can cause secondary bacterial infections, increasing the risk of complications and aftereffects. If a blister forms, do not pop it; instead, visit a nearby hospital for treatment." He emphasized, "Burns can leave scars even after treatment, so aftercare involving removal of dead tissue and skin regeneration is also important."

To prevent burns in the kitchen, avoid using multiple appliances or kitchen devices simultaneously when cooking, and do not leave cooking with an open flame unattended or heating for extended periods. Hot food and cooking utensils should be cooled thoroughly in a safe place, and for safety, children and elderly or mobility-impaired individuals should avoid entering the kitchen whenever possible.