Fact or Fiction: The Five-Second Rule

You have probably heard kids talk about it and may have even used it yourself as the excuse for still eating that M&M you dropped. The five-second rule states that if we drop food on the floor, as long as we pick it up within five seconds, it's safe to still eat.

Now I'm not sure where the five-second rule came from, but as a nurse, I was dying to know if there was any research on the subject. And to my surprise there are numerous studies.

So is the popular five-second rule fact or fiction? Well, it's a little bit of both. Studies show that food that drops on tile or hard wood DOES pick up large amounts of bacteria. Food that drops on carpet, however, DOESN'T pick up many germs but can pick up dirt and carpet fuzz (which in my opinion is just as gross).

Fact or Fiction: Butter on Burns

You may have heard the old home remedy to put butter on a burn. Is it fact or fiction? This one is actually fiction, and while those who have tried it say it helps ease the pain, putting butter on a burn can actually lead to bacteria growth and infection.

So what is the best way to care for minor burns? Here are a few tips:
• As soon as possible, run cool water over the burned area. This not only cools the area and stops the burn from getting worse, but it also will ease the pain.
• Lightly cover the area with sterile gauze to protect the area and prevent infection.
• Do not rub the area, put ice on the burn, or put butter or grease on the burn.
• For more serious burns, your pediatrician may prescribe a medical ointment to promote healing of the wound.