After my "grilling and driving don't mix" piece a couple weeks ago I received a surprise package in the mail from the folks at Water-Jel Technologies... a bottle of Burn Jel Plus, a newly enhanced product used to treat burns.

Looks like a pretty good item to have around the campfire or backyard grill, where all kinds of bad things can happen, expecially if there be any alcohol involved.

Burn Jel Plus is just the thing for treating a nasty burn.
Carey Kish photo

Given my love of product testing, of course, I immediately went out back and fired up the gas grill. Got it nice and hot, I did.

Then I stuck my hand right on it and gave me-self one heckuva a good searing. You know, the kind that you like on a good steak, with the black lines from the grill scored into the meat and all.

Oh yeah. Then I reached for a swig of my brewskie. And then grabbed my new bottle of Burn Jel Plus and slathered it on. In no time flat, the intense pain in my hand was relieved!

Really, you say? Nah, jez pullin' yer leg.

But I did have the grill on, I was cooking up some steaks, I did have a brew going, and I did have my Burn Jel Plus handy. But I decided to pass on the self-inflicted burn test for now.

I suspect that well before the summer is out I'll have plenty of opportunities to try out my Burn Jel Plus. Burns, scalds, sunburns; that's just the way things go.

Burn Jel Plus comes in a 4 oz. bottle for home and camp use, or a handy 2 oz. bottle for the rucksack, canoe or kayak, bike pannier, whatever. The big bottle sells for about $9 at just about any local drugstore.

By the way, Water-Jel has some great safety tips for backyard grilling and camping. I especially enjoyed this one: "Flaming marshmallows could ignite hair or clothing."

Hmmm. Gives me an idea for around the campfire on the next river trip perhaps. I can just see it now. Oh, the humanity...