HOW TO TREAT BURNS

All Burns

1. Stop Burning Immediately

Put out fire or stop the person's contact with hot liquid, steam, or other material.
Help the person "stop, drop, and roll" to smother flames.
Remove smoldering material from the person.
Remove hot or burned clothing. If clothing sticks to skin, cut or tear around it.

2. Remove Constrictive Clothing Immediately

Take off jewelry, belts, and tight clothing. Burns can swell quickly.
 For First-Degree Burns (Affecting Top Layer of Skin)
 1. Cool Burn
 Hold burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool water until the pain subsides.
 Use compresses if running water isn't available.
 2. Protect Burn
 Cover with sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
 Do not apply butter, oil, lotions, or creams (especially if they contain fragrance). Apply a petroleum-based ointment two to three times per day.
 3. Treat Pain
 Give over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Panadol, Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), or naproxen (Aleve, 
Naprosyn).
 4. When to See a Doctor
 Seek medical help if:
 You see signs of infection, like increased pain, redness, swelling, fever, or oozing.
 The person needs tetanus or booster shot, depending on date of last injection. Tetanus booster should be given every 10 years.
 The burn blister is larger than two inches or oozes.
 Redness and pain last more than a few hours.
 The pain gets worse.
 The hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned.
 5. Follow Up
 The doctor will examine the burn and may prescribe antibiotics and pain medication.
 For Second-Degree Burns (Affecting Top 2 Layers of Skin)

1. Cool Burn
 Immerse in cool water for 10 or 15 minutes.
 Use compresses if running water isn't available.
 Don't apply ice. It can lower body temperature and cause further pain and damage.
 Don't break blisters or apply butter or ointments, which can cause infection.
2. Protect Burn
 Cover loosely with sterile, nonstick bandage and secure in place with gauze or tape.
3. Prevent Shock
 Unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury, or it would cause discomfort:
 Lay the person flat.
 Elevate feet about 12 inches.
 Elevate burn area above heart level, if possible.
 Cover the person with coat or blanket.
4. See a Doctor
 The doctor can test burn severity, prescribe antibiotics and pain medications, and administer a tetanus shot, if needed.
 For Third-Degree Burns

1. Call 911
2. Protect Burn Area
 Cover loosely with sterile, nonstick bandage or, for large areas, a sheet or other material that that won't leave lint in wound.
 Separate burned toes and fingers with dry, sterile dressings.
 Do not soak burn in water or apply ointments or butter, which can cause infection.
3. Prevent Shock
 Unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury or it would cause discomfort:
 Lay the person flat.
 Elevate feet about 12 inches.
 Elevate burn area above heart level, if possible.
 Cover the person with coat or blanket.
 For an airway burn, do not place pillow under the person's head when the person is lying down. This can close the airway.
 Have a person with a facial burn sit up.
 Check pulse and breathing to monitor for shock until emergency help arrives.
4. See a Doctor
 Doctors will give oxygen and fluid, if needed, and treat the burn
 HOW TO TREAT ELECTRIC BURNS

 look first, don’t touch — the person may still be in contact with the electricity, and if you touch them, you will receive an
electric shock
 switch off the electricity at the mains, remove fuses, turn off all power points and unplug all cords before approaching the
person
 if that’s not possible, use material that does not conduct electricity, such as a dry wooden broom handle, to separate the
person from the electricity source
 take particular care if the victim is in contact with water, which carries electricity
When it is safe, check if the person is conscious and breathing. Gently touch and talk to the person. If there is no response,
start CPR.
If there is an electrical burn, you can treat it in the same way as you would any other burn. Put the burnt area under running
water for at least 20 minutes then cover with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel,
because loose fibers can stick to the burns.
 HOW TO TREAT CUTS AND ABRASIONS

 Wash your hands. This helps avoid infection.

 Stop the bleeding. Minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own. If needed, apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or
cloth and elevate the wound until bleeding stops.
 Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with water. Keeping the wound under running tap water will reduce the risk of infection. Wash around
the wound with soap. But don't get soap in the wound. And don't use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which can be irritating. Remove any dirt
or debris with a tweezers cleaned with alcohol. See a doctor if you can't remove all debris.
 Apply an antibiotic or petroleum jelly. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to keep the surface moist and help
prevent scarring. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment. the
 Cover the wound. Apply a bandage, rolled gauze or gauze held in place with paper tape. Covering wound keeps it clean. If the injury is
just a minor scrape or scratch, leave it uncovered.
 Change the dressing. Do this at least once a day or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty.
 Get a tetanus shot. Get a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty.
 Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if you see signs of infection on the skin or near the wound, such as redness, increasing pain,
drainage, warmth or swelling.
 HOW TO TREAT HEAVY BLEEDING

 Remove any clothing or debris on the wound. Don't remove large or deeply embedded objects. Don't probe the wound or attempt
to clean it yet. Your first job is to stop the bleeding. Wear disposable protective gloves if available.
 Stop the bleeding. Place a sterile bandage or clean cloth on the wound. Press the bandage firmly with your palm to control
bleeding. Apply constant pressure until the bleeding stops. Maintain pressure by binding the wound with a thick bandage or a piece
of clean cloth. Don't put direct pressure on an eye injury or embedded object.
 Secure the bandage with adhesive tape or continue to maintain pressure with your hands. If possible, raise an injured limb above
the level of the heart.
 Help the injured person lie down. If possible, place the person on a rug or blanket to prevent loss of body heat. Calmly reassure
the injured person.
 Don't remove the gauze or bandage. If the bleeding seeps through the gauze or other cloth on the wound, add another bandage on
top of it. And keep pressing firmly on the area.
 Tourniquets: A tourniquet is effective in controlling life-threatening bleeding from a limb. Apply a tourniquet if you're trained in
how to do so. When emergency help arrives, explain how long the tourniquet has been in place.
 Immobilize the injured body part as much as possible. Leave the bandages in place and get the injured person to an emergency
room as soon as possible.
 Call 911 or emergency medical help for severe bleeding that you can't control.
RECOVERY POSITION