[at-l] Burns hurt - Pepsi Can stove follies

[charles@uswnet.com (Charles Copeland)]

*Owwww!*  Reading that made my arms hurt!

Thank goodness it was "only" your arm!  A downside of burning alcohol is
that the flames are hard to see or invisible.  My Scouts use tuna can stoves
almost as soon as they start camping -but- are not allowed to light them.

Your stove must have still been very hot if it was able to re-ignite the
alcohol vapors - or you lit it and didn't know it.  The "splash" of alcohol
must have also splashed on your arm when it went "BOOM".

So... what happened to the steaks?  :-)


Charles



> From: Orange Bug <orangebug74@yahoo.com>
> Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 05:14:43 -0700 (PDT)
> To: at-l <at-l@backcountry.net>
> Subject: [at-l] Burns hurt - Pepsi Can stove follies
> 
> I am nursing a second degree burn over the extensor surface of my left
> forearm this AM. This was one of those rapid and stupid things that
> others should read to avoid.
> 
> I was using my newly built stove last night while cooking steaks for a
> rice accompaniment. The stove went out about midway in the cooking. I
> decided to add denatured alcohol and poured a little into the stove
> 2,3,4 squirts from the can. I couldn't get the stove to relight, and
> added just a splash to help preheat.
> 
> BOOM!
> 
> Alcohol explodes. A fireball eminated from the can, ignited by a clear
> flame I didn't see. I fell backward, breaking the chair, watching
> flames dance on my arm, and skin peel away in places. I began trying to
> pat the flames out, again not able to see the flames as much as the
> pain and the bubbling skin. I got myself over to the pool and immersed
> my arm, killing what was left of flame, and watch a bit more skin float
> away. 
> 
> It hurt, which was good. This was second degree, pretty deep but not
> full thickness to destroy pain receptors. The fall kept the bulk of my
> beard out of the fire ball. I did not inhale fireball (a very bad
> source of burn). I visited my friend down at the ER, who is dumb enough
> to have such fools for friends. A shot for pain, a tetanus shot, a
> little debridement of blistered burns and a generous slathering of
> Silverdine and gauze sent me on the way for a painful night's slumber
> at home. 
> 
> Okay, here is a thread where the great bug deserves critical comments
> and reminders of arrogance. Let's gather around and discuss how this
> could/should have been handled.
> 
> Bill....
> 
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