Burn Education
Most burns occur at home or work, and the proper response is important both to helping the patient and ensuring proper treatment of the injury.
When a burn occurs, it is human instinct to attempt to treat the victim immediately. However, some first aid decisions can actually harm the victim and complicate the burn injury.
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Do not apply ointment, butter, ice, medications, fluffy cotton, adhesive bandages, cream or oil spray because these interfere with the healing process.
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Do not allow the burn to become contaminated; avoid coughing or breathing on the burn.
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Do not bother blistered and/or dead skin.
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Do not give the victim anything to eat if he/she has a severe burn.
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Do not immerse a severe burn in cold water or apply cold compresses; this can cause shock.
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Do not place a pillow under a victim's head if he/she has an airway burn because the airway could close.
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Cover the burn with a dry, sterile cloth.
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Use ibuprofen for pain management.
First, stop the burning process by removing the source of the burn. However, do not endanger yourself. For example, do not try to grab a live electrical wire.
The next step is to remove any jewelry or clothing around the burned area. This will help prevent further damage if swelling occurs. If clothing is stuck to the burn site, do not peel it off. Instead, contact emergency services immediately.
For initial treatment of minor burns, run cool tap water over the burn for at least 20 minutes. For more severe burns, seek medical treatment immediately.
Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance immediately if:
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The victim has a severe or extensive burn
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The victim has a chemical or electrical burn
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The victim shows signs of shock
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The victim has an airway burn
It is also important to be able to determine the severity of the burn. Burns usually fall into three categories:
- First Degree Burns - Simple redness. No blistering. Healing takes around 5 days.
- Second Degree Burns - Redness with blistering of the skin. May be accompanied by swelling. Often the most painful kind of burn. Do not pop the blisters. Seek medical treatment.
- Third Degree Burns - Several layers of skin are actually burned away. Skin may have a charred appearance. Burn site usually does not blister due to damage to skin. This burn requires medical treatment.
Resources
Facts About Burns
Most of us think we're safe from burn injuries. But the truth is, burns can happen to anyone at any time. Scalding hot liquids, grease fires, car accidents, chemical explosions, house fires, frayed electrical cords and even severe sunburns can all cause serious scarring and life-threatening infections. Here are some additional facts about burns that might surprise you:
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More than 40 percent of all burn injuries occur at home.
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About 500,000 people receive treatment for burn injuries each year.
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There are 4,000 deaths each year from fire and burn injuries.
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About 40,000 people are hospitalized each year for burn injuries.
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Burns from ordinary tap water can occur at a temperature of only 111 degrees. Water heated to 130 degrees can cause severe burns in seconds.
Smoke Inhalation
How many times have you heard on the news "treated for smoke inhalation"? Did you know that smoke inhalation is a burn injury?
Just like flames, smoke and fire debris damage tissue. Your mouth, nose, throat and lungs can be damaged, and these injuries can be serious and even fatal. Up to 20 percent of people in a fire experience smoke inhalation injury, and 60 to 70 percent of those patients do not survive.
Any time someone suffers a burn, inhalation injuries should be evaluated and treated. Especially at risk are those involved in fire, combustion or chemical burns in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas.
The JMS Burn & Reconstruction Center’s healthcare team evaluates and treats all types of burns, including inhalation injuries.