How do you treat a burn from a dewalt battery

[KG29]

Hi guys,

First time this has happened and was looking for advice, maybe 20 minutes ago i was using a dewalt 20v 2.0 battery and the tool started to die, so i clicked the little button to see the charge and the heat from the battery was [eek] [eek] i was able to toss it in the grass.

I didn't instantly use cold water as my hand wasn't in pain :'( for those 20 minutes afterwards and used a different battery.

Now my left hand really hurts and is red now around my palm & thumb area where i grabbed the battery, I've used vasaline but i don't know if this is a chemical burn or not.

looking for help.

thanks [smile]

 

[CarlsonCarpentry]

This is like when I call the doctor for a routine appointment and they say “if this is a medical emergency please hang up and dial 911”....
I always think “who the heck is that message needed for!?” Turns out its you! Call the doctor my friend.

 

[MikeGE]

I wouldn't be tapping into the vast medical knowledge of an internet tool forum, I would be at the emergency room letting a professional look at the injury.  Seriously.  Go.

 

[six-point socket II]

See a doctor immediately. Only then read this post.

You should have cooled your hand immediately with a (instant) cold pack or water, using vaseline was wrong (and is probably why you are in pain right now) it closed the burn off, pretty much airtight.

Never use vaseline not even on the slightest burns. It doesn't do any good, it has no ingredients that help with a burn, it has no antiseptic effect as some claim.

I doubt you have a chemical burn, it's pretty much a side effect from not cooling, working on and then putting the vaseline on.

But better be safe than sorry, go see a doctor.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[KG29]

This is like when I call the doctor for a routine appointment and they say “if this is a medical emergency please hang up and dial 911”....
I always think “who the heck is that message needed for!?” Turns out its you! Call the doctor my friend.

Zero need to be a dick toward someone, if my hand had second or third degree burns don't you think i would be wasting the 3hr's sitting at the hospital.

 

[KG29]

See a doctor immediately. Only then read this post.

You should have cooled your hand immediately with a (instant) cold pack or water, using vaseline was wrong (and is probably why you are in pain right now) it closed the burn off, pretty much airtight.

Never use vaseline not even on the slightest burns. It doesn't do any good, it has no ingredients that help with a burn, it has no antiseptic effect as some claim.

I doubt you have a chemical burn, it's pretty much a side effect from not cooling, working on and then putting the vaseline on.

But better be safe than sorry, go see a doctor.

Kind regards,
Oliver

well I followed this and says petroleum jelly, that's why i used the Vaseline, I had hoped a few people had the same thing with a battery getting very hot. I never had this happy and didn't use my work gloves this time.

I'm just glad it wasn't a massive battery
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000662.htm

I will visit a doctor this week if my hand goes worse.

 

[elfick]

I think your first course of action would be to recycle that battery and tool, and replace it with a Festool.  [tongue]  [big grin]

 

[Cheese]

Oliver’s spot on with this one. Unfortunately, applying petroleum jelly acts as an insulator and will only retain the heat in your hand. An ice pack would have been the way to go.

Oh well, live and learn as we’ve all learned the hard way. Hopefully your hand will feel better within a couple of days and then you can rejoice in not having to sit in the emergency room for untold hours.  [big grin]

I’m sure [member=70289]CarlsonCarpentry[/member] was not disparaging your situation, he was simply trying to help.  [smile]

 

[oldie]

Running cool water for 10/20 minutes.  Then, as a precaution, seek medical advice.
Not keen on cool packs, or whatever, being held against skin.

Richard (UK) 

 

[aloysius]

Anecdotal evidence of high capacity Li-Ion batteries overheating & even catching fire are legion.  There's many a Youtube video on the matter.  You did the right thing in disposing of the battery outside.  It could've started a fire, or worse, caused a pyrotechnic explosion.

I've had both a drill & battery become literally too hot to handle:  an older Swiss Bosch Blue when drilling cable access holes through steel girders with a succession of 1/8" & 1/4" jobber bits & a slow-speed holesaw.  Lower revs @ high torque/current demand = excess heat generation.  Had to take regular "breaks", running the drill @ full speed to allow the cooling fan to do its job.

I've also had an electric drill (very old compact budget B&D) overheat to the extent that it required wrapping in a towel to proceed:  augering boltholes for steel reo in recycled railway sleepers.  Stupid, I know, but was instructed to some 45 years ago as cheap school holiday labour.  Not my drill, not my business, not my decision.

Better quality manufacturers have sophisticated current, temperature & discharge monitoring, cooling mechanisms & internal elecrtronic architecture in both tool & battery to prevent overload & damage.  Perhaps your tool/battery doesn't?

Sorry, not qualified to give medical advice, but water cooling could/would/should help?

 

[Gregor]

Running cool water for 10/20 minutes.  Then, as a precaution, seek medical advice.
Not keen on cool packs, or whatever, being held against skin.

This.

 

[Bob D.]

Not to take this thread on a tangent but one thing to watch out for when operating cordless (and corded) tools is not to block airflow to the motor which will lead to overheating.

It's easy to forget and cup your hand around the motor for stability or whatever, but it does reduce air flow and cooling to the motor which can cause burns and might contribute to higher current draw from the battery. I've caught myself doing it more than once.

 

[Sparktrician]

Not to take this thread on a tangent but one thing to watch out for when operating cordless (and corded) tools is not to block airflow to the motor which will lead to overheating.

It's easy to forget and cup your hand around the motor for stability or whatever, but it does reduce air flow and cooling to the motor which can cause burns and might contribute to higher current draw from the battery. I've caught myself doing it more than once.

In that vein, it's also a great idea to remember to blow out your tools after a job to get rid of dust and debris, and to give the tool a better chance to stay cool.  [smile]

 

[TSO_Products]

fellows - years ago I discovered a product in a professionally managed corporate First Aid cabinet that really works on minor burns:
          Burn Jelhttps://www.waterjel.com/professional-products/emergency-burn-care/pain-relieving-gels/burn-jel/

Available at pharmacies and the internet, of course. Buy it BEFORE you need it  [wink]

We have it in the office, in the shop and in the kitchen where, not surprisingly, it get's used most often. The little packets are fine for single use but in a semi permanent location the small squeeze bottles are the handiest.

Remember: "Minor Burns" - not the solutions for serious burns requiring medical attention.

Hope this helps some of you down the road.

Hans