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First Aid for Burns and Scalds
A Fast Action Plan to Save Your Skin
Burns and scalds are treated identically. Whether you will need medical attention depends on how deep the wound is and how large an area it covers.
|
Type of Burn |
Signs |
Action |
Fast Facts |
| 1st Degree (Superficial) |
Skin is red or bright pink but not broken; there are no blisters. | Rinse in cold water for at least five minutes to relieve the burning sensation. To alleviate pain apply cool, wet clothes, acetaminophen will also help. A light moisturizer, such as a one made with aloe, may soothe skin. | Minor burns damage only the top layer of skin and heal on their own in about a week. Some doctors suggest an examination if the burn occurs across a joint, such as an elbow. (There's a slight chance that scarring could affect how the joint works.) |
| 2nd Degree (Partial Thickness) |
Skin is red, tender, swollen, and blistered. | Rinse the burn in cold water; apply cool, wet compresses; and cover the wound loosely with a clean cloth until you can get immediate medical help. | Since second degree penetrates deeper into the skin, they can easily become infected. Don't break and blisters. This type of burn will take several weeks to heal. |
| 3rd Degree (Full Thickness) |
Skin will look white and leathery or charred. | Call 911. Check to make sure the victim is breathing, and perform CPR if necessary. Remove burned clothing that comes off easily. Leave anything that sticks to the wound. Do not apply ice or water. | All third degree burns must be treated immediately by a physician, as they do not heal on their own and may require skin grafting. Sometimes the person won't feel any pain because the burn goes below the dermis, into the tissue under the skin, damaging nerves. |
What Not To Do
|
DON'T: |
WHY NOT: |
| Cover a deep burn with cotton balls or fluffy bandages | Cotton can stick to the wound. Instead, use dry gauze or a clean cloth. |
| Pull off clothing that is firmly attached to a wound. | You may damage the skin further. Let a doctor remove what is left. |
| Break blisters. | This could lead to an infection |
| Cool extensive burns with water. | This could cause a dangerous drop in body temperature. |
| Apply butter, toothpaste, or egg whites to a burn. | These folk remedies do not speed healing and can attract dirt to the wound, possibly leading to infection. |
Household Burn Hazards
Hair curlers, irons and curling irons, room heaters, ovens and ranges, gasoline and fireworks.
Hot water: 133 degree water can cause a third degree burn in 15 seconds. Check your hot water heater's thermostat and set it to 120 degrees or lower.
Other Household Products: Common household products such as drain openers, bleach and toilet bowl cleaners contain dangerous acid or alkaline substances that can cause burns seconds after they come in contact with a child's skin. Chemical burns usually cause redness and occasional blisters. If one occurs, remove all clothing that has been doused with the substance, and flush the skin under running water for at least 30 minutes. While you do this, call your local poison control center at 1-800-332-3073 for more adivse, then see a doctor right away.
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