First Aid Tips: Burns
Burns are one of the most common types of injuries incurred at home. It can range from minor to major burns, which could turn out to be fatal. Hence, it is important to arm yourself with the knowledge on how to treat different types of burn.
Types of Burn
When you say type of burn, it basically refers to the classification of a particular burn injury as minor or major. There are three known classifications of burn injuries: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree. These classifications are based on a progressive manner, which implies that third-degree burns are serious and need intense medical attention as it can be life-threatening.
The process of identification of the type of burn refers to the extent of damage on the body tissues. First-degree burns are the least serious of all types of burns since it affects only the skin’s outer layer. On the skin surface, it appears red and swollen. When you touch the burnt area, there is a substantial amount of pain, however.
Second-degree burns affect but the first and second layers of the skin. The area of the skin that is burned appears to be intensely red and might have blisters. It also comes with severe swelling and intense pain.
Treating Minor Burns
You can perform your own first aid treatment for first- to second-degree burns, provided that the affected area is not larger than 3 inches in diameter. Here are 3 procedures you can use:
- Cooling. Allow cold, running water to flow directly onto the burnt area for no less than five minutes. You can do this longer until the pain eases a bit. If there is lack of running water, you can get a container filled with cold water and dump the burnt area of the body in it. This will help reduce the swelling caused by the burn on your skin. Avoid putting ice directly into the burnt skin.
- Using a cotton gauze bandage, loosely wrap the cloth around the burnt skin. The idea of using this bandaging method is to keep air off the burnt area, while also helping reduce the amount of swelling or pain.
- In some cases, the pain that comes with burnt skin is intolerable that taking pain killing medications might be your only resort. Generic type of pain killers recommended for minor burns include ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, acetaminophen, etc.
Third Degree Burns
This is the most serious case of burn damage, which damages all skin layers and result to permanent tissue damage. In some cases, even the bones are affected. On the surface, the skin appears either black or white, dry or charred.
Treatment for Major Burns
In case of major burn damage, call for medical assistance immediately. While waiting for the medical personnel to arrive, take note of the following:
- Removing burnt clothes off the patient’s body might cause skin that are not burnt to be ripped off. If you want to ensure that the patient is no longer exposed to smoldering materials, then you have to be careful when removing the clothing off the patient’s body.
- While cold water treatment is ideal for minor burns, it is not advisable for severe burns as it will cause a shock to the body.
- Verify a person’s vital signs such as breathing, circulation, or pulse.
- Wrap the burnt area of the body with moist cloth or towel. Make sure it is sterile.
Precautionary Advise for Burn Treatment
Whether you are treating minor or major cases of burns, you must never perform the following actions:
- Never put ice directly on the burnt skin. Doing so will result to frostbite, furthering the damage already present on your skin.
- Avoid using burn ointments or oils on the skin as it can intervene with the natural process of healing.
- Avoid breaking blisters that come with burnt skin as it will only expose you to infection.
Home Remedies for Burns
If any member of your family suffer from burns, take note of the following home remedies and tips to help in preventing further damage:
- The first step to treating burns is by stopping the burning process. You can do this by applying cold water onto the skin.
- Study the extent of the burn damage. If there are charred skin or blisters, it signals that the top skin layer is damaged. For bigger area of damage, call for emergency help.
- Burn in the facial or neck area can cause swelling, which could then result to difficulty in breathing. Call medical assistance immediately.
- For minor cases of burns, you can help in the natural healing process by wearing loose-fitting clothes that will cause minimal irritation on your skin.
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