Burns
Burn Care
The burn should be cooled with cold water for at least 10 minutes. Cover it with a sterile dressing of non- fluffy material (not cotton wool), cling film, or a plastic bag. Do not put creams on the burn. Seek medical help for the burn unless it is very minor.
What causes burns and scalds?
The cause of a burn may be direct heat (flames, hot surfaces, hot liquids etc), electrical (incorrect wiring in the home, old plugs, wrongly wired appliances,) or chemical (strong acids or alkalis, abandoned cleaning fluids, old batteries). Scalds are damage caused by contact with hot fluids.
Burns and scalds are the second most common cause of death from accidents in childhood. Burns may occur at any age but are particularly common among young children. Scalds are particularly common among toddlers who have little sense of potential danger, exploring and knocking over hot cups of tea, grabbing at pans on the cooker or climbing into hot baths.
What are the symptoms of scalds and burns?
There may be obvious and immediate damage to the skin, which may be very painful. In partial thickness burns the skin may be pink, red or mottled and blistering may be seen. In full thickness burns the top layer of the skin is destroyed and may look white or black and charred. Most importantly, full thickness burns are painless as the nerves carrying pain signals have been destroyed.
First Aid for Burns
Immediately cool small burns under cold running water for at least ten minutes, or rinse chemical burns for 20 minutes. (Briefly rinse larger burns, avoid excessive cooling).
Remove clothes in the area of the burn. Then either wrap the burned area in a clean plastic bag or cling film to prevent infection.
Minor burns can be treated at home with pain relief and sterile dressings. Deep or extensive burns, or burns to the face, hands or across joints, need to be treated in hospital. Severe burns need special long-term management, which may include skin grafts or treatments to prevent contractures. Psychological support to deal with scarring may also be needed.
