First Aid for Burns

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First Aid for BurnsA burn can be painful or painless, according to the degree. The degree of a burn is determined byits location on the body and the number of skin layers affected. A burn can be caused by heat, electricity, chemicals or radiation. The first response in a burn situation is to stop the heat source or break contact between the heat source and the skin. The body holds in the heat and continues to burn until the skin cools. In many cases you can cool the burn with water. Unless told to by a medical professional, never use butter or ointments; they seal in heat and may cause infection. If blisters form, they should not be broken because they protect the burn from infection.For heat or thermal burns, rinse the burn (without scrubbing) or immerse the affected area in cool water until the pain is gone. With a sterile cloth pat the burn area dry then cover. For accidents involving drenching by a hot liquid, remove the liquid-soaked clothing or place clothed victim in water bath or shower. Smother any burning clothing by dropping the victim to the ground and rolling them. Never peal stuck clothing from a burn.In cases of electrical burns, turn off the electric power at the source. Do not touch the victim until all wires are clear. Avoid contact with the electric current while removing the victim. Make sure the victim’s breathing and heartbeat are regular. Treat the victim for shock and make sure they get medical attention. Check places where the electricity entered and exited the victim’s body. Treat minor burns with cool water and have the victim seek medical attention.With chemical burns, locate the chemical container and follow the label directions foremergencies. Consult the chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or call the PoisonControl Center. Remove any contaminated clothing. If the eyes have been affected, flush them for30 minutes. For acid chemicals, immediately flush the affected area for 15-20 minutes. For drychemicals, brush the chemical off the skin then flush the area for 15-20 minutes. Make sure the victim seeks medical attention.The severity of a burn may not be obvious for up to 24 hours and infection may occur ifimproperly treated. Always seek medical help if the victim:shows symptoms of shockhas head or neck burns or has trouble breathinghas burns on the hands, feet or groin (making muscle and ligament damage more likely)if second or third degree burns are presentif victim is over age 60 or under 5 years of ageBefore an accident happens, know the location of the first aid kit, the nearest telephone, andmedical facility. Burns can be painful and cause irreparable damage in seconds. You must be able to respond appropriately and get medical help as quickly as possible.What causes burns?Y ou can get burned by heat and fire, radiation, sunlight, electricity or chemicals. There are 3 degrees of burns:First-degree burns are red and painful. They swell a little. They turn white when you press on the skin. The skin over the burn may peel off after 1 or 2 days.∙Thicker burns, called second-degree burns, have blisters and are painful. The skin is very red or splotchy, and it may swell a lot.∙Third-degree burns cause damage to all layers of the skin. The burned skin looks white or charred. These burns may cause little or no pain because the nerves in the skin are damaged.How long does it take for burns to heal?∙First-degree burns usually heal in 3 to 6 days.∙Second-degree burns usually heal in 2 to 3 weeks.∙Third-degree burns usually take a very long time to heal.How are burns treated?The treatment depends on what kind of burn you have. If a first- or second-degree burn covers an area larger than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, or is on your face, hands, feet or genitals, you should seea doctor right away. Third-degree burns require emergency medical attention.Do not put butter, oil, ice or ice water on burns. This can cause more damage to the skin.First-degree burnSoak the burn in cool water. Then treat it with a skin care product like aloe vera cream or an antibiotic ointment. To protect the burned area, you can put a dry gauze bandage over the burn.Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (some brand names: Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (brand name: Aleve), to help with the pain.Second-degree burnSoak the burn in cool water for 15 minutes. If the burned area is small, put cool, clean, wet cloths on the burn for a few minutes every day. Then put on an antibiotic cream, or other creams or ointments prescribed by your doctor. Cover the burn with a dry nonstick dressing (for example, Telfa) held in place with gauze or tape. Check with your doctor's office to make sure you are up-to-date on tetanus shots.Change the dressing every day. First, wash your hands with soap and water. Then gently wash the burn and put antibiotic ointment on it. If the burn area is small, a dressing may not be needed during the day. Check the burn every day for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, swelling or pus. If you see any of these signs, see your doctor right away. To prevent infection, avoid breaking any blisters that form.Burned skin itches as it heals. Keep your fingernails cut short and don't scratch the burned skin.The burned area will be sensitive to sunlight for up to one year.Third-degree burnFor third-degree burns, go to the hospital right away. Don't take off any clothing that is stuck to the burn. Don't soak the burn in water or apply any ointment. Y ou can cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth until you receive medical assistance.What do I need to know about electrical and chemical burns?A person with an electrical burn (for example, from a power line) should go to the hospital rightaway. Electrical burns often cause serious injury inside the body. This injury may not show on the skin.A chemical burn should be washed with large amounts of water. Take off any clothing that has thechemical on it. Don't put anything on the burned area. This might start a chemical reaction that could make the burn worse. If you don't know what to do, call 9-1-1 or your local poison control center, or see your doctor right away.First Aid for Second-Degree Burns What are second-degree burns?Second-degree burns are more serious than first-degree burns because a deeper layer of skin is burned. They can more easily become infected. Also, if the burn affects more than 10% of your skin, you may go into shock because large quantities of fluid are lost from the burned area.All second-degree burns greater than 2 to 3 inches in diameter should be treated by a medical professional. Smaller burns can usually be treated at home.What causes second-degree burns?Second-degree burns are usually caused by:∙deep sunburn∙exposure to flames∙contact with hot liquids∙burning gasoline or kerosene∙contact with chemicals.What are the symptoms of second-degree burns?The skin is bright red and blotchy and has blisters. It usually looks wet because of the loss of fluid through the damaged skin.Second-degree burns are often very painful.What is the treatment?The goals of treatment for second-degree burns are easing the pain and preventing infection.For second-degree heat burns without open blisters, follow these steps:∙Remove jewelry or tight clothing from the burned area before it begins to swell.∙Flush the burn with cool running water or apply cold- water compresses (a wet towel or handkerchief) until the pain lessens. Do not use ice or ice water, which can cause more damage to the burned area.∙Try not to break the blisters. If the blisters break, the exposed skin can become infected. ∙Cover the burn with a clean (sterile, if possible), dry, nonfluffy bandage such as a gauze pad. Do not put tape on the burn.∙Do not put ointments, grease, petroleum jelly, butter, or home remedies on the burn.These substances can hold the heat in, making the burn worse.∙Keep burned arms or legs raised to reduce swelling.∙Get medical help for second-degree burns greater than 2 to 3 inches in diameter or for burns on the hands, face, penis, buttocks, or vaginal area.For second-degree heat burns with open blisters, follow these steps:∙Do not remove clothing if it is stuck to the burn.∙Do not run water over the burn or use water on the bandage because it increases the risk of shock.∙Cover the burn with a clean (sterile, if possible), dry, nonfluffy bandage, such as a gauze pad. Do not put tape on the burn.For extensive second-degree burns that are more than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, see your doctor. ∙You will need extra fluids to replace the large quantities of fluids your body loses through the burned area. Your doctor may give you fluids intravenously (through a tube into your vein). ∙Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics because the burned skin can no longer protect your body from infection by airborne bacteria.∙Your doctor will either lightly bandage the burned area with an antibacterial dressing or leave it unbandaged.∙Your doctor will prescribe medicine to kill the pain.∙Your doctor may recommend a skin graft to lessen scarring.∙Your doctor may give you a tetanus booster.For chemical burns, follow these steps:∙Flush liquid chemicals from your skin thoroughly with running water for 15 to 30 minutes.∙Remove any clothing and jewelry on which the chemical has spilled.∙Brush dry chemicals off the skin if large amounts of water are not available. Small amounts of water will activate some chemicals. Be sure to keep the chemicals away from your eyes.∙Cover the burn with a dry, loose bandage.How do I take care of a burn?After you have cleaned and bandaged the burn, leave it alone for at least 24 hours to allow the healing process to begin.Preventing infection in the exposed skin is an important part of the treatment for second-degree burns. If you have been told to change your bandages, follow these procedures to help prevent infection:∙Wash your hands carefully with soap and water.∙Place the fresh bandage on a clean towel.∙Take off the old bandage gently. Soak it off if it sticks to the burn.∙Wash the burned area gently.∙Check for any changes or worsening of the burned area, such as pus, swelling, or increased redness.∙Apply a thin layer of antibiotic cream to the burn.∙Cover with the clean bandage.How long will it take a second-degree burn to heal?Usually, second-degree burns heal in 10 days to 2 weeks. There may be few or no scars if the burn was not too extensive and if infection is prevented.When should I call a doctor?See your doctor immediately if you have any of the following:∙fever∙puslike drainage from the burned area∙excessive swelling of the burned area∙increased redness of the skin∙numbness or coolness of the skin beyond the burned area on arms and legs∙ a blister filled with greenish or brownish fluid or one that becomes hot again or turns red ∙ a burn that doesn't heal in 10 days to 2 weeks.。