First Aid for Burns,Be PreparedIf you are someone who is interested in learning first aid for burns, you are putting yourself in a place where you will be prepared in case of emergency. Whether you are working with small children or you just want to be sure that you know what to do, you will find that learning first aid for burns is something that can make a lot of difference if something should happen. The truth of the matter is that dealing with a burn is fairly simple and straightforward. When you get a burn, the first thing that you should do is to assess it. If there is a singed looked to the flesh or if there is any charring, you need to go straight to the emergency room or dial 911. This is the sign of a third degree burn and it needs immediate medical attention. Similarly, if the burn covers large portions of the face, hands, feet or groin, you should also go to a doctor. If the skin is merely reddened, as in the case of a first degree burn, or if only the first and second layer of skin are burned, this is something that can be treated at home. When you are looking at first aid for burns, the first thing that you should do is to cool the area off. Hold the affected area under cool water for five minutes. If you cannot get that part of your body under the faucet, you can also cool it down with a cool compress. The pain should mostly subside at this point, as you are taking heat away from the area. You will also find that this will bring down any swelling and that if you do it fast enough, you can even swelling and that if you do it fast enough, you can even prevent any blistering. Once you have cooled the burn down, cover it up with some sterile gauze bandages. Make sure that you are using gauze and not fluffy cotton, which can irritate the tender skin. Remember that you want to avoid putting any pressure on the burn so pack the gauze on fairly lightly. When you bandage a wound like this, you are essentially keeping air off of the burned skin and protecting it while it heals. You will also find that it can reduce the pain of the wound itself by applying some very gentle pressure. When you are done with that portion of the first aid, remember that you may want a basic painkiller. You will find that just about anything sold over the counter at the drugstore will work for this purpose. Look into aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen, though aspirin should be kept away from children or teenagers. Providing first aid for burns is a very simple and basic task and as long as the burn is not too severe or large, you will find that it is something that can easily be handled at home. Make sure that you keep some gauze and over the counter painkillers on hand, and you'll be in good shape. Top Go from this First Aid for Burns page to the Burns and Sunburn's page. Sunburn Magazine's Home |
