For the LAST TIME. The world will NOT end in 2012!

I have been extremely annoyed by the number of people on the web and twitter who are allowing themselves to become paranoid about the "2012 meme". The idea is that the Mayan calendar ended in 2012, indicating the end of the world, and it has been popularized by a new movie. Mayan experts have been out in force trying to remind the public that the Mayan religion was cyclical not apocalyptic (unlike Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and posited a world without an end.

Now, NASA is taking on the myth head-on as well. Good for them! Y2K was a real threat. H1N1/Swine flu is a real threat. The "Great Recession" is a real threat. Even Climate Change is worth talking about. But 2012 hysteria is groundless, and just undermines good sense.

First-Aid Mythbusting

Urban legends are generally harmless, if annoying. But there are some bits of "common wisdom" that can be extremely dangerous. Take all of the anecdotal "cures" that you see on television? It is important to know the facts so that a minor injury doesn't become something worse.

A child pulls a pot of boiling water off the stove or sticks their hand on a hot burner

Do you put butter or mayonnaise on the burn? Hurriedly remove the child’s clothing because it is stuck to the burn? Get out the ice?

Those are the common reactions in the case of a burn, but all of them are myths.

Butter, mayo or other types of grease may cause even more damage to tender skin and pulling clothing or other materials stuck to the burn could damage the tissue or pull the skin off completely.

The correct action is to rinse gently with cool water and coat the burn with antibiotic ointment.

I know we have nurses, mothers, and outdoorsmen who read this blog. What other tips do you have for the RIGHT ways to treat injuries that are counter-cultural?

Gotta love the Mythbusters

This one is for St. Patty whose love of paintball is legendary.