Tips on how to treat burns
Never apply ice, toothpaste or fats like butter, olive oil and peanut butter on the affected area.
Burns require immediate medical attention and to effectively treat different types of burns it is important to know the severity of it. Willem Stassen, an ER24 Critical Care paramedic has shared some informative tips.
There are three main types of burns which can be caused by chemical, gas, steam, thermal (heat), electrical and sunburn.
Superficial burns (first degree): The burn affects only the top layer of skin. Symptoms are some reddening, inflammation and pain, but no blistering.
Partial thickness burns (second degree): The burn reaches into the second layer of skin. Symptoms are redness, inflammation and pain, and fluid-filled blisters are present.
Full-thickness burns (third degree): The burn has gone through all the layers of skin. There is no reddening or swelling, and the skin appears greyish-white and leathery. There may also be some charring.
The first and most important thing to do when treating a burn is to cool the burn area down quickly, but how you do that depends on what caused the burn.
For thermal burns (caused by direct heat like fire, steam or oil): Place the affected area under cool running water from the tap until the area is cool to the touch. Do not use ice, as it could cause freeze-burn.
Electrical burns can affect your heart rhythm and other organs in the body, often causing an irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest or unconsciousness. If the patient is unconscious and not breathing, start CPR immediately and call an ambulance on 084 124. If the patient is conscious, cool the entry and exit wounds and cover with a dry, clean dressing before seeking medical attention.
Chemical burns (caused by toxic or corrosive substances, usually at work) can be difficult to treat. Different chemicals react differently to water. Therefore, water may not be a treatment or cooling option. First, determine the source of the burn and call the Poisons Information Centre on 0861 555 777 for advice on what to do. If the skin has been burnt by a household chemical like bleach, pool acid or hair removal cream, rinse off under cold water and cover with a clean, dry dressing before seeking medical attention.
Never apply ice; fats like butter, olive oil or peanut butter; or toothpaste. The latent heat in the burn will heat up the oil.
If in doubt, get it checked out! Otherwise, burns to the face, hands, genitals and over main joints, as well as chemical and electrical burns, and burns on babies, young children or elderly people, should get immediate medical attention.
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