Simple problems with simple solutions

[Mealy]

On a nice JH to titan trip I thought I had the ultimate solution to caving with period pain. The ready-made heat pad of my descender.

However this turned out to be a terrible idea (see photo of the branding). So I will now depart my newly discovered wisdom: simples can get rather hot! The wonders of nylon rope Martin told me. I would not recommend putting Simple’s down your furry because they appear to immediately stick to your melting skin.

It has made for a nice impromptu tattoo.

 

[Roger W]

Ouch!

 

[Brains]

Perhaps a tattoo would be better than a brand, hope it isn't too painful and heals quickly

 

[LadyMud]

Ouch . . . but I'll bet it took your mind off the period pain!

 

[pwhole]

I saw this for real this afternoon, and I have to say I was very impressed with your nonchalance, considering the burn. It's a pity the logo didn't come through, or you could have tapped Petzl for some sponsorship as some sort of 'ambassador' - but I'm not sure what for exactly. I hope you've put some Savlon on it by now

 

[nobrotson]

You absolute jape

 

[mikem]

From burn centre care website:
"A burn is damage to your skin caused by a temperature as low as 44 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) for a long time.
A high temperature (more than 80 degrees Celsius) can cause more severe burns in a very short period of time (less than a second)."

Also US national library of medicine:
"Studies show that a temperature of 52 degrees C (125 degrees F) can cause a full-thickness skin burn in 2 minutes and a temperature of 54 degrees C (130 degrees F) can result in a full-thickness skin burn in 30 seconds."

& US encyclopedia of forensic & legal medicine:
Once heat applied is 44 °C or above, tissue injury will occur, although it requires at least 6 h. Above 44 °C but below 51 °C at the skin surface, the rate of thermal injury doubles with each degree increase in temperature. Temperature above 51 °C will cause almost immediate destruction of the epidermis. Above 70 °C, full-thickness tissue destruction occurs in seconds. An estimation of thermal injury according to time and temperature is given in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of contact time with temperature in causing partial-thickness burns
Temperature (°C)45----50----55----60----65
Time taken.--------3 h--4 min-30 s--5 s--1 s

So, how long do you reckon it was there...?

 

[Ian Ball]

The more I think about heat buildup in abseiling, the slower I descend.

 

[mikem]

You produce just as much heat, but allow more time for it to dissipate

 

[Mealy]

From burn centre care website:
"A burn is damage to your skin caused by a temperature as low as 44 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) for a long time.
A high temperature (more than 80 degrees Celsius) can cause more severe burns in a very short period of time (less than a second)."

Also US national library of medicine:
"Studies show that a temperature of 52 degrees C (125 degrees F) can cause a full-thickness skin burn in 2 minutes and a temperature of 54 degrees C (130 degrees F) can result in a full-thickness skin burn in 30 seconds."

& US encyclopedia of forensic & legal medicine:
Once heat applied is 44 °C or above, tissue injury will occur, although it requires at least 6 h. Above 44 °C but below 51 °C at the skin surface, the rate of thermal injury doubles with each degree increase in temperature. Temperature above 51 °C will cause almost immediate destruction of the epidermis. Above 70 °C, full-thickness tissue destruction occurs in seconds. An estimation of thermal injury according to time and temperature is given in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of contact time with temperature in causing partial-thickness burns
Temperature (°C)45----50----55----60----65
Time taken.--------3 h--4 min-30 s--5 s--1 s

So, how long do you reckon it was there...?

It was long enough! Long enough to discover hot hurty. Maybe about 30 seconds

 

[Mealy]

I saw this for real this afternoon, and I have to say I was very impressed with your nonchalance, considering the burn. It's a pity the logo didn't come through, or you could have tapped Petzl for some sponsorship as some sort of 'ambassador' - but I'm not sure what for exactly. I hope you've put some Savlon on it by now

I agree it is a pity it does not say petzl or simple, that would amuse me. The Savlon was located!

 

[Ian Ball]

Thanks for sharing Mealy, 30 seconds is not really that long!

 

[mikem]

It was long enough! Long enough to discover hot hurty. Maybe about 30 seconds

Sounds like it was somewhere around 50 to 55'C then

 

[Roger W]

Nasty! Not so hot that it was too hot to touch, but hot enough to cause quite a bi t of damage on longer contact. Especially on sensitive areas like your tummy.

 

[Roger W]

Just dug out the instructions for my wheat and lavender filled "neck wrap" to heat in the microwave and use to soothe those aching neck and shoulder muscles. It says (in capital letters):

"Warning - this product can cause burns.
Avoid prolonged direct contact with the skin."

Plus a few other bits of good advice - "don't give to children under 3 years of age," etc.

Maybe Petzl should put something like that on their descenders?