First aid steps to take when You have a Burn

Most people that have constant contact with fire have experienced some form of a burn. Although scald injury is common, it is not the only cause of burn injury. There are many more:

Types of Burns

• Chemical: These include mainly acidic and basic burns. This can result from accidents or homicides. Immediate medical attention is required in this situation, determine what type of chemical caused it before calling for help. Improper use of chemical-based creams may also result in burning.

• Electrical burn: They are caused by naked wires, lightning, etc. This is also an emergency case that requires Hospital care. In severe cases, it may lead to the immediate death of the victim.

• Scald/Thermal Burns: These form of burns are caused by heat. The most common culprit is fire. Others are steam, contact with hot surfaces, hot water, etc

• Sunburn: Ultraviolet (UV) rays are responsible for sunlight-induced skin damage.

The depth of skin affected determines what is called 'the degree of burn'

1st degree Burn: Here,  Only the outer skin layer (the epidermis) is hurt. It is very painful, and redness is seen.

2nd degree: The inner layer of the skin is reached in this case. It is also very painful. This level is where blistering occurs.

3rd degree: In this case, the injury runs deep into the muscles and the Bone. Because, the nerves that respond to pain are destroyed, pain is rarely felt. This is an emergency case.

Take note that 3rd-degree burns are usually mixed with 2nd and 1st degree at the edges.

• The amount of Body parts affected is referred to as Body surface area. Vital body parts that need Medical help are Face, head, Genitals, hands.


• Furthermore, certain conditions require hospital care. These include pregnancy, old age, little children.


• If the victim has a charred(greyish) skin or cannot breathe properly (or even unconscious), call for help on the Emergency hotline.

Steps to take after a Burn

The steps below are to be applied for small affected areas. They can be used as first aid for scald burns as well.

The first move is to remove the insult or escape from it. In addition, take off metal objects such as jewelry from the body.

Afterward,  measures to relieve the inflammation (mostly the pain, then the redness and subsequent swelling and blistering) should be taken

1. Place under running cool or lukewarm water for about 10-20 minutes. Do not use very cold water or ice.

2. Vaseline Petroleum jelly

   This emollient is a very good soothing substance. It helps calm the inflammation.



3. Honey

   

   Honey is a natural humectant and a natural anti-inflammatory. Rubbing honey immediately, even without running through cool water prevents blistering and scar formation.



4. Shea Butter:

   Shea butter has similar actions to vaseline.
   
   Vaseline, honey or shea butter can be used alone. Aside from calming the inflammation, little or no scar is formed after the injury resolves.



5. Wrap with a clean gauze:

   Cover the wound with a clean cloth or sterilized gauze, if available.

6. Stay hydrated:

   There is an increased risk of dehydration after a burn. Because the skin contributes in regulating water loss from the body, when a large Body area of the skin is lost, or when there are lots of Blisters, water loss is increased. Drinking lots of water helps to avoid a state of dehydration.


7. Do not tamper with the wound (by peeling it or busting the blisters) during the healing process. The result of interfering with wound healing is the elongated duration and may lead to a secondary infection.


8. Corticosteroid ointment and Analgesics: The ointment aids in reducing inflammation while the painkiller eg Ibuprofen, alleviates pain.

Thank You for reading.

Yours in the flawless skin journey, Nafisah NK