How to Give First Aid for Burns

Burns happen. They can be small boo-boos or really scary. Knowing first aid for burns is super important. It can help stop more damage, keep germs out, and help your skin heal. Let's learn how to give burn treatment and deal with emergency care.

Understanding Burns: What Kind is It? How Bad Is It?

Before we dive into how to give first aid burns, we need to know what we're dealing with. Knowing the type and severity of the burn helps you figure out what to do. Think of it like this: you wouldn't treat a paper cut the same way you'd treat a deep gash, right?

Types of Burns

• Thermal Burns: These are from hot stuff. Fire, boiling water, steam, hot pans... you get the idea.
• Chemical Burns: These happen when nasty chemicals touch your skin. Acids, cleaners, and other stuff.
• Electrical Burns: Electricity is dangerous. It can burn you inside and out. Sometimes you can't even see how bad it is.
• Radiation Burns: Too much sun? Tanning beds? Those can cause radiation burns.

Severity of Burns

How bad is the burn? It depends on a few things. The American Burn Association (ABA) has rules for this.

• First-Degree Burns: Just the top layer of skin. Think sunburn. Red, hurts a bit, maybe a little puffy.
• Second-Degree Burns: Goes a bit deeper. You get blisters. Ouch! It's red, super painful, and swollen.
• Third-Degree Burns: This is serious. The skin is gone. It might look white, leathery, or black. It might not hurt much because the nerves are damaged.
• Fourth-Degree Burns: The worst kind. It goes through the skin, fat, muscle, and even bone. Get help right now.

What makes a burn bad?

• Depth: How deep the burn goes.
• Size: How much of your body is burned. Doctors use something called the "Rule of Nines" to guess this.
• Location: Burns on your face, hands, feet, private parts, or joints are extra serious.

First Aid for Burns: What to Do Right Away

Here's what you need to do for first aid. Remember, fast immediate burn treatment is key! If you're not sure how bad the burn is, or it's big, deep, or on a sensitive area, go to the doctor.

General Guidelines for All Burns

1. Be Safe: Make sure you are safe first. Get the person away from what's burning them.
2. Stop the Burning: Put out the fire or take away the heat.
3. Cool It Down: Use cool (not cold!) water for 10-20 minutes. This helps with pain and stops damage. If you can't run water, use cool, wet cloths.
4. Take Off Tight Stuff: Gently take off jewelry or clothes near the burn before it swells up.
5. Cover It Up: Put a clean, loose bandage or cloth over the burn. This keeps germs out and keeps air off of it.
6. Prevent Shock: Keep the person warm and comfy. Look for signs of shock: fast heartbeat, fast breathing, pale skin.
7. Get Help: Go to the doctor for big burns, deep burns, burns on sensitive areas, or burns that look infected.

Specific First Aid for Different Types of Burns

Thermal Burns

Do the general stuff. Cool the burn right away! Don't use ice. It can make it worse.

Chemical Burns

1. Flush with Water: Wash the burn with lots of cool water for at least 20 minutes. Keep washing until help arrives.
2. Take Off Clothes: Take off any clothes or jewelry that touched the chemical.
3. What Was It?: If you can, figure out what chemical caused the burn. Tell the doctor.

Important: Don't try to mix chemicals to "fix" the burn. It can be super dangerous.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns are really serious. Get help fast!

1. Be Safe: Don't touch the person if they're still touching electricity. Turn off the power if you can.
2. Call for Help: Call 911 right away.
3. Breathing and Pulse?: Check if the person is breathing and has a pulse. If not, do CPR.
4. Cover the Burn: Cover the burn with a clean, loose bandage or cloth.

Important: Electrical burns can hurt inside, even if you can't see it. Even if the person seems okay, they need to see a doctor.

Radiation Burns

For small sunburns:

1. Cool Skin: Use cool cloths or take a cool bath.
2. Moisturize: Use lotion or aloe vera.
3. Drink Up: Drink lots of water.
4. Hide from the Sun: Stay out of the sun!

For worse radiation burns, see a doctor.

What NOT to Do When Giving First Aid for Burns

Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do for first aid for burns. Don't do these things:

• Don't use ice: It can hurt the skin more.
• Don't use butter, oil, or grease: They trap heat and can cause infection.
• Don't pop blisters: Blisters protect the skin. If one breaks, clean it gently with soap and water and put on a bandage.
• Don't use cotton balls: They can stick to the burn.
• Don't pull off clothes stuck to the burn: Cut around them instead.
• Don't wait to get help if you need it: Doctors can help with serious burns.

When to Get Help from a Doctor

When does a burn need a doctor? Get help right away if:

• It's a third or fourth-degree burn.
• It covers a lot of the body (more than 10% in adults).
• It's on the face, hands, feet, private parts, or joints.
• It's an electrical burn.
• It's a chemical burn.
• The person has trouble breathing, coughing, or a hoarse voice.
• It's a baby, an old person, or someone with health problems.
• It looks infected (more pain, red, swollen, pus).

How to Prevent Burns

It's better to not get burned in the first place! Here are some tips:

• Have smoke detectors and check them often.
• Keep hot stuff away from things that can burn.
• Don't set your water heater too high (120°F is good).
• Watch kids around hot things.
• Use sunscreen.
• Wear the right safety gear when working with chemicals or electricity.
• Be careful when cooking.

Conclusion

Knowing how to give first aid burns is a great skill to have. It can make a big difference in an emergency. By knowing what kind of burn it is, doing the right burn treatment, and knowing when to get help, you can help someone heal. Remember, first aid isn't the same as going to the doctor, but it can help until they get there. Stay safe! And maybe take a first aid and CPR class to learn even more.