WHAT ARE BURNS?

Burns are one of the most common household injuries, especially

among children. The term “burn” means more than the burning
sensation associated with this injury to the skin or other organic tissue
primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity,
friction or contact with chemicals. Burns are characterized by severe
skin damage that causes the affected skin cells to die. Most people can
recover from burns without serious health consequences, depending
on the cause and degree of injury. More serious burns require
immediate emergency medical care to prevent complications and
death.

What Are the Different Types of Burns?

A burn injury usually results from an energy transfer to the body. There
are many types of burns caused by thermal, radiation, chemical, or
electrical contact.

Thermal burns:
Burns due to external heat sources which raise the
temperature of the skin and tissues and cause tissue
cell death or charring. Hot metals, scalding liquids,
steam, and flames, when coming in contact with the
skin, can cause thermal burns.
Figure 1 Thermal Burns
Radiation burns:
Burns due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun, or to
other sources of radiation such as x-ray

Chemical burns:
Burns due to strong acids, alkalies,
detergents, or solvents coming into
contact with the skin and/or eyes

Figure 3 Chemical Burns

Electrical burns:
Burns from electrical current, either alternating
current (AC) or direct current (DC)

Figure 4 Electrical Burns

Preventing all degrees of burns

The obvious best way to fight burns is to prevent them from happening.
Certain jobs put you at a greater risk for burns, but the fact is that most burns
happen at home. Infants and young children are the most vulnerable to burns.
Preventive measures you can take at home include:

 Keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.

 Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
 Place a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
 Test smoke detectors once a month.
 Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.
 Keep water heater temperature under 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
 Measure bath water temperature before use.
 Lock up matches and lighters.
 Install electrical outlet covers.
 Check and discard electrical cords with exposed wires.
 Keep chemicals out of reach, and wear gloves during chemical use.
 Wear sunscreen every day, and avoid peak sunlight.
 Ensure all smoking products are stubbed out completely.
 Clean out dryer lint traps regularly.

It’s also important to have a fire escape plan and to practice it with your family
once a month. In the event of a fire, make sure to crawl underneath smoke.
This will minimize the risk of passing out and becoming trapped in a fire.

First aid for a major burn

The first step in treating a major burn is to call 911 or seek emergency
medical care.

Steps to take until emergency arrives include:

1. Make sure you and the person who’s burned are safe and out of harm’s
way. Move them away from the source of the burn. If it’s an electrical
burn, turn off the power source before touching them.
2. Check to see if they’re breathing. If needed, start rescue breathing if
you’ve been trained.
3. Remove restrictive items from their body, such as belts and jewelry in or
near the burned areas. Burned areas typically swell quickly.
4. Cover the burned area. Use a clean cloth or bandage that’s moistened
with cool, clean water.
5. Separate fingers and toes. If hands and feet are burned, separate the
fingers and toes with dry and sterile, nonadhesive bandages.
6. Remove clothing from burned areas, but don’t try to remove clothing
that’s stuck to the skin.
7. Avoid immersing the person or burned body parts in
water. Hypothermia (severe loss of body heat) can occur if you immerse
large, severe burns in water.
8. Raise the burned area. If possible, elevate the burned area above their
heart.
9. Watch for shock. Signs and symptoms of shock include shallow
breathing, pale complexion, and fainting.
Things not to do
 Don’t contaminate the burn with potential germs by breathing or
coughing on it.
 Don’t apply any medical or home remedy, including ointment, butter,
ice, spray, or cream.
 Don’t give the burned person anything to ingest.
 Don’t put a pillow under their head if you think they have an airway burn.

First aid
for a
minor
burn
1. Cool down the
burn. After
holding the burn
under cool,
running water,
apply cool, wet
compresses until
the pain subsides.
2. Remove tight items, such as rings, from the burned area. Be gentle, but
move quickly before swelling starts.
3. Avoid breaking blisters. Blisters with fluid protect the area from infection.
If a blister breaks, clean the area and gently apply an antibiotic
ointment.
4. Apply a moisturizing lotion, such as one with aloe vera. After the burned
area has been cooled, apply a lotion to provide relief and to keep the
area from drying out.
5. Loosely bandage the burn. Use sterile gauze. Avoid fluffy cotton that
could shed and get stuck to the healing area. Also avoid putting too
much pressure on the burned skin.
6. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if necessary.
Consider acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil),
or naproxen (Aleve).