How to Treat a Burn

Guide Note

You never know how it might happen—accidentally dropping boiling water on yourself in the kitchen or being caught in a fire. Almost everyone experiences some kind of burn at least once in their lifetime. How to Treat a Burn will show you how to apply first aid until you can seek professional medical attention.

Table of Contents

Treating a Burn Tips

  1. Always know what kind of burn you're dealing with before applying first aid.
  2. If your clothes are on fire, roll around in the dirt to extinguish flames. Wrap yourself with a blanket if one is available. It will also help douse the flames.
  3. Run cool water over the wound for as long as possible.
  4. If the burn is in a sensitive area of the skin, or covers a portion larger than your palm, call a doctor immediately.

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by millicent_bystander)
(Creative Commons photo by millicent_bystander)
  • A small slip in the kitchen to a big explosion can lead to burn victims who need immediate attention. As the Mayo Clinic notes, when in contact with extreme heat, not only can the outer layers of our skin be damaged, but there is also potential for tissues and nerves to be destroyed.1 It is essential that a burn victim be given immediate attention, no matter how big or small the extent of the damage.
  • Here's how to apply first aid to a burn victim.

Step 1: Determine the Degree of the Burn

(Creative Commons photo by Shubert Ciencia)
(Creative Commons photo by Shubert Ciencia)
  • The first thing you need to do in treating a burn is to determine the extent of the damage caused by the burn.2 This means not only figuring out whether the burn is first, second or third degree, but also the area on the skin covered. If the affected area is larger than the palm of your hand, say an entire arm or abdomen, call for help immediately.
  1. First-Degree: A first-degree burn is the least serious of them all. It usually indicates that only the outer layer of the skin has been affected. A first-degree burn is characterized by red skin, swelling and minor pain.1
  2. Second-Degree: Second-degree burns cause much more pain and swelling and often cause blisters.1 The second-degree burns usually affect the deeper layers of the skin. A second-degree burn can prove to be dangerous if handled incorrectly and should be looked at by a doctor once the initial first aid has been administered.
  3. Third-Degree: Third-degree burns are the most severe, and usually cause permanent tissue damage.3 The burns are usually painless because the nerves themselves have been burnt, but involve all layers of the skin, causing a charred look or making the skin appear dry and white. If the victim has a third-degree burn, call emergency services immediately.

Step 2: To Treat a First-Degree Burn

  1. Run cool (not cold) water over the burn for at least five minutes or until there is no pain.
  2. Apply antiseptic cream and wrap the burned area loosely with a sterile gauze bandage. Put just enough pressure on the skin to protect it from air.1 This is done in order to reduce pain and protect the blistered area.
  3. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.3
  4. Watch for any signs of infection such as increased pain, oozing or swelling. Apply sunscreen to the affected area for at least a year.1

Step 3: To Treat a Second-Degree Burn

  1. Run cool water over the burn for at least fifteen minutes. If that is not possible, dip washcloths in ice cold water and apply on the affected area.4
  2. Do not use any substance such as honey, butter or aloe on the burn as it is susceptible to infection.4
  3. If the area burned is large or is in a part of the body that has sensitive skin such as the neck, face or genitals, get immediate medical attention.3
  4. Apply antibiotic cream on the burn and wrap it with a sterile gauze bandage. Do this daily until the burn heals.4

Step 4: Things to Remember

(Creative Commons photo by Slava)
(Creative Commons photo by Slava)
  1. Never apply ice directly on a burn. Doing so can cause frostbite.1
  2. Don’t try to treat third-degree burns on your own. Call for immediate medical attention and cool with water in the meantime.4
  3. Never pop the blisters as this could lead to infection.5
  4. It is not advisable to use oil and butter on severe wounds.4
  5. If the patient experiences dizziness, weakness, fever or cold sweats, it may be due to dehydration or hypothermia. Call a doctor.4
  6. Don't remove burn clothes from the victim's body unless you are absolutely sure that it is not sticking to the body. Also make sure there is no longer any smoke or heat around. 4
  7. Large and severe burns should not be treated with cold water, as this could cause shock.1
  8. Whenever possible, elevate the burned parts of the patient's body to above the heart level.4

Conclusion

  • A burn can cause permanent damage and scarring if not treated in time. Unless you're sure you're dealing with a first-degree burn, apply the appropriate first aid and then see a doctor.

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References for How to Treat a Burn

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 MayoClinic.com: Burns: First Aid
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 About.com: Burns: First Aid Burn Treatment
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 wikiHow: How to Treat a Burn
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 WebMD: Burns – Home Treatment
  5. ↑ eHow: How to treat a burn