Burn Care
How to treat skin burns
Burns can be one of the most serious injuries a human being can sustain. They can be very painful and cause scarring that requires surgery to fix. This is why it's important to add burn care to your first aid training. Knowing what to do when someone is burned can greatly reduce the amount of medical care they will need in the future.
Burns are caused by the sun, fire, steam, heat, electricity or chemicals. There are three severities of burns. First degree burn symptoms include reddening skin, slight pain and maybe peeling when the burn is healing. Second degree burns blister, swell and can scar if they are tampered with or picked at. Finally, third degree burns, or deep burns, blister and scab over the skin, causing severe scarring and excruciating pain, or conversely, no pain at all, since all the nerves have been destroyed. All burns can cause shock, which is a severe reaction to any injury that requires medical treatment immediately.
First aid for burns is extremely important – you need to know what to do to lessen the effect of a burn injury. If someone you know is burned, the first step in first- and second-degree burn wound care is to flush the skin with cold water. Do not rub the skin with butter or any oil, as this can make the burn worse. Third-degree burns should not be touched at all – go straight to the hospital if someone you know sustains a third degree burn.
After flushing, first degree burn treatment should include applying aloe vera or a similar soothing ointment. For second degree burns, you should flush the skin for at least fifteen minutes, then cover it with gauze and seek medical attention.
Skin burn treatment for burns caused by chemical spills includes flushing with water. Do not attempt to put any cream or ointment on a chemical burn – go straight to the hospital after flushing the skin as much as possible.
Why Is Burn Care Essential for Proper First Aid?
- Immediately taking care of a burn can lessen its effects later on.
- Prompt first aid can make it easier for medical workers to treat the burn.
Things to Consider When Practicing Burn Care
- How bad is the burn?
- Has the person been burned by chemicals or electricity?
- Is the person showing any other symptoms, such as shock?
Top Burn Care Product Brands
- Red Cross burn care
- Solarcane burn care
