Could Use some intelligent advice

I won't get into the how, but, I severely burned my hand (see Images 1, 2, below.)

The problem(s)
1. OSHA, my shop would be closed if I made a claim
2. DOT, they'd piss test all of my smoking buddies, when I came up dirty (I have to give an undiluted sample, in case there's already blood poisoning.) By smoking buddies, I mean the drivers.
3. That same dirty UA will get me fired.

or, it happened a different way. Nonetheless, I'm a mechanic, right hand dominant, and this is my right hand. Not good. I have Aflac, and the boss could lay me off because I can't perform my job.

Does Aflac piss test? This could seriously fuck up our lives, we're set to move in 45 days, and have budgeted the move out, with both of our checks.

Or, do you think I could just pop the blisters, put some antibiotic on it, and ride it out the next few weeks?

minnesmoker said:

I won't get into the how, but, I severely burned my hand (see Images 1, 2, below.)The problem(s) 1. OSHA, my shop would be closed if I made a claim2. DOT, they'd piss test all of my smoking buddies, when I came up dirty (I have to give an undiluted sample, in case there's already blood poisoning.) By smoking buddies, I mean the drivers.3. That same dirty UA will get me fired.or, it happened a different way. Nonetheless, I'm a mechanic, right hand dominant, and this is my right hand. Not good. I have Aflac, and the boss could lay me off because I can't perform my job.Does Aflac piss test? This could seriously fuck up our lives, we're set to move in 45 days, and have budgeted the move out, with both of our checks. Or, do you think I could just pop the blisters, put some antibiotic on it, and ride it out the next few weeks?View attachment 2770476View attachment 2770477

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I have a buddy that is a welder and he burned his hand pretty bad. He didn't report it to his employer right away and it got really bad and nasty looking and had to eventually get a Dr's note to take a week off work. He is also in some sort of welding school as well. He told his employer it happened at school and his school that it happened at work and didn't have to take a UA.

Well, I do weld, and that's where I got the glare again, but I'm used to it now... The burn, I can't hold a wrench, and I have to rebuild a diesel Tuesday night, it's being used Monday, and Wednesday... I also have to finish that trailer, and the boss decided that another trailer needs to be fixed instead of scrapped.

I don't enjoy leaving him fucked, but, I might have to -- I can easily explain the burn as 3 AM just got home, looked under hood dropped flashlight and hit hot manifold...

What you burn it with? . Goodluck bro. Hope it works out.

Just a family practice type doctor will see you for $100 bucks or so. You have something you could sell off to see a doc?
I would think the real concern is infection... You can get some antibiotics cheap.

Sounds like you don't want to make a claim on this one. Pay out of pocket.

I lost one of my favorite instruments (Rhodes Elec Piano) when my GF needed dental work done... sucks.

I had thought you are supposed to let the blisters pop on their own.

Can you make some kind of glove up that pads the hand and makes it possible to work?

There are those minute clinics at CVS. They will prbly tell you to go to a dr office... but it's worth a shot.

My boss gave me a job while I was on strict parole as a flight risk and violent felon. He didn't report me when I almost skewered another guy with a broken broom handle. He has let me slide on 3 incidents where I shoulda' piss tested. I have the what happened covered, and I have aflac that covers off hours. I just need to know if I'm pissing in the wind on this, so to speak. I don't know if they piss test for payouts.

Insurance company piss test because you burned yourself? Or do you mean workmans comp?

Just say you did it at home and use your regular health insurance. They won't piss test unless it is Worker's Comp. Even if they do a toxscreen they can't release the results to anyone because of HIPPA.

Now whether AFLAC tests you or not I don't know, but a quick search didn't show any results that say they do. Probably have to read your policy's fine print to find out.

Do not pop blisters, wash with soap and water, coat with silver sulfadiazine (SSDI), and wrap do this as aseptically as possible. Keep hand positioned above heart for the next 72 hours. Repeat this every 12 hours until healed.

If it converts you know what's ahead.

I was going to tell him to pop them and neosporin the shit outta them. And wrap during day. And let breathe at night. But , that's just me. Blessing G

Damn minne! No advice but I hope you heal quick.

I'd probably listen to Annie, she seems to know a thing or two about a thing or two.

Yeah man. Pretty sure you don't want to pop those. You just run higher risk of infection. Medically speaking, that is the largest concern here.
(From what i understand... I am NOT a doctor)

TripleMindedGee5150 said:

I was going to tell him to pop them and neosporin the shit outta them. And wrap during day. And let breathe at night. But , that's just me. Blessing G

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Burned hands are a special case. They are often hospitalized for circumferential serious partial thickness burns of fingers and hands. Because you can convert rapidly to full thickness initially. We don't know the full extent of a burn until at least 24 hours have passed. Even 24h s/p injury we have to deal with thickness conversion for many reasons. Anyway during third spacing you can require emergency escharotomies to keep the hand. Escharotomy care is beyond home care.

curious2garden said:

Do not pop blisters, wash with soap and water, coat with silver sulfadiazine (SSDI), and wrap do this as aseptically as possible. Keep hand positioned above heart for the next 72 hours. Repeat this every 12 hours until healed.

If it converts you know what's ahead.

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here's the best advice. you could see the $100 doc but doubtful he would prescribe antibiotics. they don't usually for burn unless it is already infected. then again I ain't no doc.

Still blocked from giving you rep points Annie...

Dam man,I hate to hear your going through this plight of somewhat complex circumstances.Well,you dont want anyone to get Piss tested including yourself right?Getting DT will make everything incredibly difficult based on what you posted in the OP.Find out the Aflec policy to the letter,if you have to piss test,then there dosent seem to be much choice other than to quit the job so you dont get your buddy's tested and likely fired.If you stay and ride this one out with the hand being fucked up like it is,youll more than likely suffer infection, burn infection is not pretty.Is it possible to file for a leave of absence from were you work?If so try it,youd be better off than your other options on the table.Just my 2 cents.Best of luck to you!

minnesmoker said:

....snip...... I can easily explain the burn as 3 AM just got home, looked under hood dropped flashlight and hit hot manifold...

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No that mechanism of injury will not cover that injury. Spilled hot grease from the stove would tho.

curious2garden said:

Do not pop blisters, wash with soap and water, coat with silver sulfadiazine (SSDI), and wrap do this as aseptically as possible. Keep hand positioned above heart for the next 72 hours. Repeat this every 12 hours until healed.

If it converts you know what's ahead.

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perfect answer right here as i got pretty badly burned at work a few years back now and after a trip to the er, where they did pretty much nothing but pump me with pain meds, i wound up at the burn center in another hospital the next day..
the prescribed a big ass vat of the silver sulfardizine and i had to put it on daily. had to wrap with clean dressings after.. every day i had to get in the shower and wet the dressings and slowly remove them and all sorts of dead skin would come off with the dressings every day in the shower.
hands down the most painful thing i've ever experience.. burns are no joke.. but yeah, keep it clean as burns can easily get infected, and use the s.s. and clean dressings on it, and let nature take it's course.. don't pop any of the blisters, as tempting as it maybe..

good luck, and sorry to hear as i for one know how damn painful that shite is..

and hey, if you wanna feel a lil better about the whole thing, listen to some richard pryor where he talks about being in the hospital after he caught himself on fire smoking crack..
talking about getting baths daily like i just did, and the nurse telling him each day.. see richard, it's just water, it's nice and soothing isn't it? feel the water?? it feels nice right?
yeah, it's water, i know what water feels like honey, wtf..

a few days later he gets in the same water and jumps out of his skin as he starts to get his feelings back . i don't do it justice of course, but pryor is awesome..

curious2garden said:

Do not pop blisters, wash with soap and water, coat with silver sulfadiazine (SSDI), and wrap do this as aseptically as possible. Keep hand positioned above heart for the next 72 hours. Repeat this every 12 hours until healed.

If it converts you know what's ahead.

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I do -- I have the matching scar on the other hand from last year, when that shit went deep. Thanks for putting up with my shit, when you were tryin' to help. That's me, without marijuana. My thoughts go everywhere, I'm rude, I can't concentrate... Yeah.

curious2garden said:

No that mechanism of injury will not cover that injury. Spilled hot grease from the stove would tho.

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For a doc. normally they'll give you a "yeah right" look, and write it down, but, thank you for helping me tie up that loose end! I'm going in tomorrow -- urgent care was closed today, and Aflac doesn't pay enough to cover an ER visit.

racerboy71 said:

perfect answer right here as i got pretty badly burned at work a few years back now and after a trip to the er, where they did pretty much nothing but pump me with pain meds, i wound up at the burn center in another hospital the next day..
the prescribed a big ass vat of the silver sulfardizine and i had to put it on daily. had to wrap with clean dressings after.. every day i had to get in the shower and wet the dressings and slowly remove them and all sorts of dead skin would come off with the dressings every day in the shower.
hands down the most painful thing i've ever experience.. burns are no joke.. but yeah, keep it clean as burns can easily get infected, and use the s.s. and clean dressings on it, and let nature take it's course.. don't pop any of the blisters, as tempting as it maybe..

good luck, and sorry to hear as i for one know how damn painful that shite is..

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This is why I'm going to urgent care... I went in and took care of my weekend rigs, had a little help with the bulk carriers, but, I can mostly manage left handed. I don't know how I'm going to run a plasma cutter or welder, though. That's a right hand concentration thing, and if I try to grip with my left hand (even with the lidocaine patch) it starts shaking like Micheal J. Fox is holding my elbow...