[Alan McDougall (OP)]

From the time I was a boy I knew that by putting my very painful burned finger in ice cold water nearly took away the pain. I had to be patient and keep my finger in the water until I could tolerate it out of the cold water.

How does this work and why?

Alan

[LeeE]

When you've burned something, say a finger, it means that you've heated it up.  Air's quite a good insulator, so your heated finger stays hot and continues to be damaged until you cool it down.  Sticking your finger into water, which is quite a good conductor, cools it down by transferring the heat to the water.  However, this won't stop the pain from the damage that's already been caused but if you stick it into ice-cold water there may also be a numbing effect.

[Alan McDougall (OP)]

Lee,

Thanks that makes sense

Alan