Monday, May 25, 2009

Advice from Doctor Mommy

The temperatures here are finally getting warmer, and Reagan is loving being able to play outside all day long. Of course, hot sunny days make me think back to that dreadful day two summers ago when Reagan burned the bottom of her feet while playing outside. So, I decided that as DOCTOR MOMMY, I needed to give you some advice and WARNING!

This is a copy of the post I made on July 11, 2007...

This blog has become not only a place for me to keep everyone up to date on everything Reagan, it has also become my "memory" book for her. That means that I must post both the good and the bad, and this particular post is pretty bad. This past Wednesday was the hottest day in history ever for this area. It was between 39 and 41C degrees throughout the lower mainland, which equals 102-105F. So it was hot... South Carolina hot! Reagan and I went to a friend's house for a play date, and naturally the girls wanted to play outside. Reagan was barefooted, but I didn't think anything about it. She plays outside barefooted all the time. She was standing on a sun deck that is made of wood with a vinyl gray painted coating. Very very very common here. I was about 15 feet away from her when I heard her start screaming. I could tell by the way she was standing that her feet hurt, so I ran to pick her up. I knew that her feet must be hot, but I had no idea what I was getting ready to see. In the possible 15-20 seconds that passed before I picked her up, Reagan suffered severe second and third degree burns on the bottom of both of her feet and all of her toes. The skin had instantly blistered and started to peel away. She was in horrible pain, and actually went in and out of shock on the way to the hospital. The ER in Langley was fantastic in that we were in the back and with a doctor in less than a minute. The nurses gave Reagan a shot of morphine, and once it had kicked in they bandaged up her feet. We were back at the hospital this afternoon to have the bandages removed, the burns checked and cleaned, and then new bandages were put in place. This will happen every three days for the next little while (we think for the next 12-15 days). The hardest part now is trying to keep her off her feet because she is so active. It's funny watching her crawl around like a little baby again after we had become so accustomed to her running around like a toddler lately. She is such a tough little girl... she is really handling it all very well.

The picture of her feet that I have attached to this post is pretty gross. But I wanted you to see just how much damage could be done is such a very short period of time.
I had never heard of this happening to a child before, but I have since found out that it is a common accident. And from all that I have heard, it doesn't have to be anywhere near as hot outside as it was the other day for this to happen. So be careful with your kids at the park, playgrounds, or even at home when they are barefooted! Check surfaces to make sure that they are safe. I certainly will be doing so from now on!

Reagan ended up being in bandages for nearly a month. She has now healed completely, however she still remembers that day and is very sensitive and aware of her feet!

23 comments:

forever folding laundry said...

Oh. My. Gosh. That is one of the worst things I've ever seen. I'm so sorry that happened to her!! Thank you for the warning. I never would have thought that so much damage could be done from a hot deck.

~Keri

Loukia said...

Oh my God! I can't believe that happened to her! Poor her, poor you, it must have been so hard keeping her off her feet - they are so active at that age! Poor darling... what an ordeal! Thanks for this post, my boys love being barefoot in the summer... I will certainly be more aware from now on!

Jenn said...

I would have never imagined that could have happened! Thanks so much for the warning--I'll be checking the temps of surfaces before Wiggle Man runs around barefoot!

E @ Scottsville said...

OH.MY.GOODNESS!!! I've never seen anything like that?! Wow, and being from Texas, where we get that hot, too, you'd think I'd have seen it here!

Poor baby! I'm glad that's an OLD post and she's already healed.

Yikes!

Miller Racing Family said...

Thanks for the warning, I had never heard of this happening. But I am sorry that it happened to your precious baby! I will have to remember this and keep those shoes on all of us, as we each hate wearing shoes.
Have a great Memorial day and I will continue to blog and watching the race!

Unknown said...

I knew this could happen, but I never thought it could be that severe. Third-degree burns, poor baby! We live in GA & my kids are forever walking around barefooted. Thanks for the warning!

Anonymous said...

OWCH! I remember hearing of another child with this same condition. I think it's the young baby skin on those feet that are so susceptable - but you probably already said that...
God bless!

Gracie said...

Sorry your baby had to endure such a horrible experience but thank you for sharing this experience to prevent another person from going through it.

Kameron said...

That is horrible! When I was 2 we were at a park in OR that had those in ground fire pits. Someone had thrown sand over their burning colas and I didn't know it and ran right over them doing the same thing to my feet. It is obvious that something like that can hurt you, but I don't think people realize it can happen from a hot deck or concrete. Thanks for sharing that experience, even if it was hard.

Ashley @ {Let Go, Laughing} said...

Wow that is so scary. I had no idea this was possible in such a short about of time!

Jennifer said...

Thank you for the heads up...My little one did burn his hand recently and it was SO heart breaking. You are AWESOME for posting this to hopefully help out another mommy!

Not Just Any Jen said...

Oh my, poor baby! I am so sad to see your baby hurt like that, but I do appreciate the warning. The image of her feet is one that will be hard to forget. I am glad she is okay now!
Jen

Brooke said...

Oh My! Thank you for sharing this with us. It's not something I probably would have thought about, now I definitely will. Glad she is okay now.

JennyH said...

OUCH!! That looks SO painful. Glad everything turned out just fine though. Poor thing - at that age not being able to run around probably killed her!

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Wow. I was almost in tears at the sight of those little feet. that poor little girl. I would have never have guessed anything like that could happen. Thank you for sharing!

Now, off to {finally} add your button to my blog!

Kathy B! said...

That is HORRIBLE. I am so glad she is okay, and that I am reading this after we know how it all ends.

Thanks for the warning. My kids are older, but I will certainly pass the advice along as well as make sure the kids have their shoes on...

Beth said...

WOW!!!!! I have never heard of that and I am in South Alabama - it gets HOT!!! I am so glad she healed completely - but what an ordeal for you all!

Grand Pooba said...

Oh poor Reagan! That just breaks my heart looking at her poor feet! Good think Doctor Mommy was in!

Brandi said...

Oh, bless her little heart! We live in a very hot climate and my boys run outside w/out shoes quite alot. I had no idea this could happen. . . we will certainly be more careful now!

AiringMyLaundry said...

Oh my, I cringed looking at her poor feet. Ouch!

Thank you so much for the warning. I will definately keep this in mind.

Five Moms & A Blog said...

Wow. I had no idea that could actually happen! Seriously, who would ever think it was a possibility!

I am so glad that she is fine now though and thanks for the warning!

I had something to say about your post on the Five Mom's blog but totally went out of my head, lol!

~ Nan

Momisodes said...

Oh geez! Poor thing. That must have been so painful. I'm so glad to hear that she's recovered. Definitely some great tips and reminders for summer safety here.

Banteringblonde said...

oh my .... poor baby!