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How to Treat a Burn
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. -
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Treating a Burn Tips
- Always know what kind of burn you're dealing with before applying first aid.
- 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.
- Run cool water over the wound for as long as possible.
- If the burn is in a sensitive area of the skin, or covers a portion larger than your palm, call a doctor immediately.
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Managed Since: 06/22/2009
Views: 3,482
Money Earned: M$24.89
Page revenue is subject to change as we obtain data from our partners
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How to Assess Burns
This video examines the severity of burns and how to differentiate whether you are suffering from a first degree, second degree or third degree burn. First-degree burns usually involve some pain and redness, neither of which last very long. These burns are not very serious. Second-degree burns can be serious, and are usually very painful, accompanied by redness and blistering. Third-degree burns are the most serious, and involve redness, blistering and even a charring of the skin. These types of burns are not painful because all the nerves in the area are completely damaged, having burned through all three layers of a person’s skin. The video also discusses being able to assess the surface area of a burn, and explains the importance of going into the doctor if 15% or more of your body has been burned. -
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Introduction
- 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.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First Aid It is essential that a burn victim be given immediate attention, no matter how big or small the extent of the damage.
- The first thing you must do is to put out the fire or remove the source of the heat from the victim's body.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First Aid When a person's clothes are on fire, drop them to the ground, smother them with blankets and roll them around to extinguish the flames. Then you need to assess the extent of the injury.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First Aid
- Here's how to apply first aid to a burn victim.
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Step 1: Determine the Degree of the Burn
- The first thing you need to do in treating a burn is to determine the extent of the damage caused by the burn.About.com: Burns: First Aid Burn Treatment 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.
- Look for blistering, charring or peeling as well.About.com: First Aid: Burns: First Aid Burn Treatment These too, indicate that you need to call in emergency assistance.
- 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.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First aid
- Second-Degree: Second-degree burns cause much more pain and swelling and often cause blisters.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First aid 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.
- Third-Degree: Third-degree burns are the most severe, and usually cause permanent tissue damage.wikiHow: How to Treat a Burn 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.
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Step 2: To Treat a First-Degree Burn
- Run cool (not cold) water over the burn for at least five minutes or until there is no pain.
- 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.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First aid This is done in order to reduce pain and protect the blistered area.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.wikiHow How to Treat a Burn
- Watch for any signs of infection such as increased pain, oozing or swelling. Apply sunscreen to the affected area for at least a year.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First aid
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Step 3: To Treat a Second-Degree Burn
- 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.WebMD: Burns — Home Treatment
- Do not use any substance such as honey, butter or aloe on the burn as it is susceptible to infection.WebMD: Burns — Home Treatment
- 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.wikiHow How to Treat a Burn
- Apply antibiotic cream on the burn and wrap it with a sterile gauze bandage. Do this daily until the burn heals.WebMD: Burns — Home Treatment
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Step 4: Things to Remember
- Never apply ice directly on a burn. Doing so can cause frostbite.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First aid
- Don't try to treat third-degree burns on your own. Call for immediate medical attention and cool with water in the meantime.WebMD: Burns — Home Treatment
- Never pop the blisters as this could lead to infection.eHow: How to treat a burn
- It is not advisable to use oil and butter on severe wounds.WebMD: Burns — Home Treatment
- If the patient experiences dizziness, weakness, fever or cold sweats, it may be due to dehydration or hypothermia. Call a doctor.WebMD: Burns — Home Treatment
- 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. WebMD: Burns — Home Treatment
- Large and severe burns should not be treated with cold water, as this could cause shock.MayoClinic.com: Burns: First aid
- Whenever possible, elevate the burned parts of the patient's body to above the heart level.WebMD: Burns —Home Treatment
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