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75 posts
Location: Malaeimi, Am. Samoa
75 posts
Location: Malaeimi, Am. Samoa
Posted:
Hi all !
Just finished the 3rd Annual World Fireknife Competition here in American Samoa.
My sons competed against the Polynesian Cultural Center Junior Champion - what a contest !
My oldest boy took first place and my middle son took third - I'm very proud of both of them !
The Junior division took place two nights - Friday and Saturday.
My youngest son (12, and the Los Angeles Children's Fireknife Champion) danced last on Friday night.
After doing really well with his single knife - he was totally focused. Unfortunely, a bit of a ruckus broke out backstage when a non-sober person was smoking near the fuel and didn't want to go elsewhere. In the confusion, my son was handed his doubles - which had not been spun off at all and were lit on one end.
Knives full of white gas, he went through a couple of motions and then moved into the flat shoulder spin - at which point white gas from the knives was flung over his chest and shoulders and immediately caught fire.
Thankfully - he remembered his training - dropped the knives and began patting out the flames - all the while heading towards the safety - who met him halfway with a damp towel. Although the flames were out already, the damp towel helped prevent further injury.
I, of course, was videotaping and when it happened I wanted to drop the camera and go, but I knew he had patted the flames out in time and was in the best of hands - but it still seemed ages until my relief came.
By the time I got backstage he was cooled down and slathered in Solarcain Aloe Burn Relief, but crying inconsolably because he had not been able to finish.
I have a friend who makes a salve from the famous Samoan Nonu fruit (think Noni Juice). When we got home we put some of this salve on his burn and, the next day, he was fine. When the worst of the burns (two tiny spots) started looking a little raw I put Caladryl lotion on them to dry them up - it's been 4 days and he's almost completely healed and looking forward to dancing Friday night.
And yes - as a mother I asked him if he wanted to quit - even encouraged him - but he loves it. Although my heart will pound every time he lights up - I know that an accident like this is very rare (even the senior dancers were shook up). I also know that all the training worked - we only allow white gas because it needs lots of oxygen - and you have 3 seconds before it causes a 2nd degree burn.
In Western Samoa they regularly use straight gasoline as a fireknife fuel, but I hope this showed them the difference - if my son had been spinning gas he would be in the hospital or worse.
At least I scored a good burn kit off the EMS bus. (4X4s and irrigation solution).
The best burn treatment:
4X4 gauze -pour over sterile water for about 5 minutes at 20 seconde intervals.
when the burn is cool, Solarcain Aloe Burn Treatment eases pain and soothes the burn.
Before sleep , slather with either vitamin E or Aloe.
If wounds appear raw - Caladryl lotion will help dry them up.
"The world is a much nicer place thanks to Hobbits"
Teejay
Hi all !
Just finished the 3rd Annual World Fireknife Competition here in American Samoa.
My sons competed against the Polynesian Cultural Center Junior Champion - what a contest !
My oldest boy took first place and my middle son took third - I'm very proud of both of them !
The Junior division took place two nights - Friday and Saturday.
My youngest son (12, and the Los Angeles Children's Fireknife Champion) danced last on Friday night.
After doing really well with his single knife - he was totally focused. Unfortunely, a bit of a ruckus broke out backstage when a non-sober person was smoking near the fuel and didn't want to go elsewhere. In the confusion, my son was handed his doubles - which had not been spun off at all and were lit on one end.
Knives full of white gas, he went through a couple of motions and then moved into the flat shoulder spin - at which point white gas from the knives was flung over his chest and shoulders and immediately caught fire.
Thankfully - he remembered his training - dropped the knives and began patting out the flames - all the while heading towards the safety - who met him halfway with a damp towel. Although the flames were out already, the damp towel helped prevent further injury.
I, of course, was videotaping and when it happened I wanted to drop the camera and go, but I knew he had patted the flames out in time and was in the best of hands - but it still seemed ages until my relief came.
By the time I got backstage he was cooled down and slathered in Solarcain Aloe Burn Relief, but crying inconsolably because he had not been able to finish.
I have a friend who makes a salve from the famous Samoan Nonu fruit (think Noni Juice). When we got home we put some of this salve on his burn and, the next day, he was fine. When the worst of the burns (two tiny spots) started looking a little raw I put Caladryl lotion on them to dry them up - it's been 4 days and he's almost completely healed and looking forward to dancing Friday night.
And yes - as a mother I asked him if he wanted to quit - even encouraged him - but he loves it. Although my heart will pound every time he lights up - I know that an accident like this is very rare (even the senior dancers were shook up). I also know that all the training worked - we only allow white gas because it needs lots of oxygen - and you have 3 seconds before it causes a 2nd degree burn.
In Western Samoa they regularly use straight gasoline as a fireknife fuel, but I hope this showed them the difference - if my son had been spinning gas he would be in the hospital or worse.
At least I scored a good burn kit off the EMS bus. (4X4s and irrigation solution).
The best burn treatment:
4X4 gauze -pour over sterile water for about 5 minutes at 20 seconde intervals.
when the burn is cool, Solarcain Aloe Burn Treatment eases pain and soothes the burn.
Before sleep , slather with either vitamin E or Aloe.
If wounds appear raw - Caladryl lotion will help dry them up.
"The world is a much nicer place thanks to Hobbits"
Teejay
BRONZE Member
Still wiggling
5,967 posts
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)
Still wiggling
5,967 posts
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)
Posted:
Well done for your oldest son, and especially well done to your youngest for knowing what to do... that must have been terrifying...
Take care
Well done for your oldest son, and especially well done to your youngest for knowing what to do... that must have been terrifying...
Take care
Getting to the other side 
addict
406 posts
Location: Oxford, UK
406 posts
Location: Oxford, UK
Posted:
There should probably be a thread about good burn treatments, if there isn't already. I'll have to do a search...
There should probably be a thread about good burn treatments, if there isn't already. I'll have to do a search...
"Take that, math!"
AnonymousPLATINUM Member
Posted:
For you and your sons! 
For you and your sons! © 1998 - 2025 Home of Poi
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