The do’s and don’ts of treating burns

Burns are a common injury that can range in severity from minor discomfort to life-threatening emergencies.

The extent to which a burn will heal often depends on the quality of first aid received immediately after the injury, according to emergency medical services provider Netcare 911.

Gary Paul, clinical head of Netcare 911’s coastal operations said, “Whether it’s a minor burn caused, for instance, by a steaming cup of coffee or a more serious burn, there is little doubt that correct first aid can improve the outcome.”

Paul advised burn victims to remain calm and always extinguish flames if there were any. He said, “In an emergency when clothing is on fire, action must be instinctive and immediate and so everyone should know the principle of stop, drop and roll.”

Paul encouraged parents and teachers to teach children about the stop, drop and roll technique from a young age and reinforce this message from time to time so that in an emergency they will remember what to do.

He provided the following tips for treating a burn victim:

•  Look after your own safety

If the patient has an electrical burn and is still in contact with the electrical source, switch off electricity before assisting them. If you cannot switch off the electricity, use an object that does not conduct electricity, such as a wooden broom handle, to separate the person from the power source. When extinguishing flames on a person, be careful that your own clothing does not catch fire. In the case of a chemical burn, use protective eye-wear and gloves to ensure that you do not get the chemical on yourself.

•  Cool the burn area

Run cold water over the affected area for at least 20 minutes in the case of minor to moderate burns. This may help to limit the damage to deeper skin tissue, and is also effective for chemical burns as the water can help to dilute the harmful substance.

•  Call for advice and assistance

Call an emergency medical service provider as soon as it is practical to do so. As each burn is different, give the call operator at the emergency operations centre as much information as possible. This will help them to give you the most appropriate advice and assistance.

According to Rene Grobler, Netcare Milpark Hospital trauma programme manager, most burns are preventable with a few precautions.

Grobler provided the following precautions:

•  Invest in and maintain at least two fire extinguishers in your home and ensure that you know how to use a fire extinguisher before you are faced with an emergency situation.
• Invest in basic smoke detectors for different parts of your house.

• Never use petrol or other flammable liquids or gels to start a braai fire.

•  Take extra care around fires, flame, gas, hot liquid and cooking equipment. Do not leave children unsupervised around these potentially dangerous heat sources.

• Do not sleep with electric blankets or heaters switched on.

• Test the bath water for babies and children. It should be comfortably warm.

• Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach.

• Never overload electrical plug points, as this can increase the fire risk.

• Never smoke in bed, near gas cylinders or other flammable substances. Always dispose of cigarette butts responsibly.