Don't Bathe Your 4 Year Old In Alcohol To Reduce Fever

References:

[orangefruit]

When you have a degree in physics but skipped chemistry class

[bonnietagliarini]

In 1954 my 20 month sister had a very high fever. The Dr. advised bathing her in alcohol. NO not the kind you drink. Baby aspirin was all I remember. Ultimately she was rushed to hospital, but died from meningitis the same day. I was only 5, but will never forget that day.

[TheMunkzilla]

This story boils down to "Don't dip your kids in whiskey, folks."

[anneedens]

I remember as a child that doctors would recommend rubbing alcohol to reduce high fevers. You rubbed it on the skin and you would cool as it evaporated. This is also from the same era Doctors would offer you a cigarette when they gave you bad news.

[RobRoschewsk]

My parents did this to me. I would run crazy high fevers. Another one for the “it’s a wonder I’m still alive” list.

[plantaepower]

I have never heard of anyone doing this before until I saw how common it is in the comments

[RatKindler]

My mom used to rub me with alcohol (rum) whenever I had a fever. I still associate the smell of rum with sickness.

[Amigo]

Apparently they remembered that phase changes take a lot of energy, but they forgot that a chemical doesn't cease to exist when it changes phases.

[MICHELLE-guqc]

Crazy story. I hope the child made a full recovery

[Oruta-skk]

That's why they not only teach you physics but also chemistry and biology in school

[SooDamGood]

In my country, 20 years ago it was a tradition when you have temperatures to continue to keep yourself very warm. I’d used to have 3 quilts over me and drink warm tea to keep me warmer. I’d be sweating it out with 40°C but the next day I’d feel fine to get out of bed. It’s so different now

[loriferlulu]

When worked as an ER nurse we had a mom bring her baby in because while she was bathing her in alcohol she accidentally spilled some in her eye. Thankfully the baby was fine but we had to tell her to stop doing that.

[giggitygiggity]

Was just about to bathe my 4 year-old son in alcohol. So glad I found this video and learned it was a bad idea.

[tropicbliss]

okay first of all you shouldn’t be that afraid of a fever unless it’s so intense you need an alcohol bath then maybe it’s time to see the doctors

[madierenee]

I love your analogy for dealing with mental health since early, early childhood. I’ve been dealing with OCD for as long as I can remember, and I didn’t know it until it went from “how my brain works” to a BIG PROBLEM, and when I finally started taking medication I felt the EXACT same way you did - so happy that I was feeling better, but frustrated with myself that I didn’t do that sooner. I wish you all of the very best in your recovery, it’s so hard when it’s almost all you know, but we believe in you! You’ve got this!!

[lucyk.]

I remember when I was in kindergarten and got a fever, the teachers wanted me to go bathe in alcohol and I didn't want to and I told them my mom wasn't gonna like it, plus at that age I already felt "icky" about bathing/showering in places that I didn't know for sure were cleaned up properly😂😂😂
Well being a small kid, despite saying I didn't want to I couldn't really disobey (I was not the kind of kid to throw tantrums, sometimes I wish I was), and they bathed me in water mixed with alcohol and I was not happy about it.
Mom came and wasn't happy either, although she didn't make a scandal, but she told them to just call her asap next time and to not ever do that to me again.
Plus, it didn't really work. Fever did not go down and I remained sick for a few days.
Despite being young I already knew alcohol made people drunk since my dad loved drinking, so in my young brain logic I was like "dad says I shouldn't drink, he gets drunk, so why should I SWIM in alcohol?! Makes no sense"
Nice to know that my instincts were right!! Even if I couldn't defend myself lol.

[AM-tcct]

Geez, i love that you’re posting about this. My younger brother spiked a fever in the 80s at camp. I think I was between 103 and 104. I remember hearing he was put in an ice bath and something vaguely about rubbing alcohol. Anyhow, we were lucky camp was only about 2hrs drive.

[maxjansson]

Trying this next time I have a fever since I am not a child

[michellelynngarceau]

The literal definition of being “too smart for your own good”.

[vbt]

"Resulting in a cute alcohol poisoning" UwU