Burns -First Aid

While some burns can be easily treated in the home, serious burns require immediate medical attention and first aid.

Causes: Contact with intense heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation (including sunlight)

To apply emergency treatment, you must first determine the degree of the burn: 

• First degree: red or discolored skin, mild swelling and pain
  
• Second degree: deeper burn, red skin and blistering, more severe swelling and pain
  
• Third degree: white or charred (black) skin, skin layers destroyed, lack of pain, bleeding

First- and Second-Degree Burns: 

1. DO NOT burst blisters. DO NOT put pressure on burn area. DO NOT use antiseptic sprays, ointments, butter, or other home remedies.
   
2. Remove constricting clothing and jewelry.
   
3. Immerse burned area in cool (not ice) water for at least 10 minutes. For facial burns, apply clean towels soaked in cold water.
   
4. Cover burned area loosely with clean gauze or cloth.
   
5. Seek medical attention for burns on the face, genitals, hands, or feet.

Third-Degree, Chemical, or Electrical Burns: 

1. Call for Emergency Medical Service or Ambulance
   
   Until Emergency Medical Service or Ambulance arrives:
   
2. DO NOT remove shreds of skin or burst blisters. DO NOT apply antiseptic spray, ointment, butter, or other home remedies. DO NOT remove adhered particles of clothing, but be sure all clothing is extinguished.
   
3. Remove constricting clothing and jewelry.
   
4. If burn is from a chemical, remove contaminated clothing and place victim under shower of cool water for at least 5 minutes.
   
5. Check airway, breathing, and circulation . If breathing stops, . If no signs of circulation, see CPR.
   
6. Cool burned area with clean, cool water. However, do not cool more than 20 percent of an adult's body or 10 percent of a child's body at a time, due to the risk of hypothermia or shock.
   
7. Cover burned area lightly with sterile nonadhesive dressing or clean, dry towel.
   
8. Elevate burned area higher than level of heart. If burn is on face, keep victim sitting up.
   
9. Observe for shock .