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EDUCATION
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FIRST AID FOR MINOR BURNS
BURNS AWARENESS MONTH
MAY 2017
CUT OUT & KEEP
A
burn is an injury to the skin or other organic
tissue primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction, or contact with chemicals.
The skin has an important role to play in the fluid and temperature regulation of the body. If enough skin area is injured, the ability to maintain that control can be lost.
In South Africa, burns are the greatest cause of unnatural death among children under age five. Burns commonly result from the sun, scalding by hot liquids, fire, electricity, or chemicals. Very young children have especially sensitive skin and even a burn from a cup of coffee can prove fatal.
While minor burns on fingers and hands are usually not dangerous, burns injuring even relatively small areas of skin can cause serious complications.
It is essential to apply appropriate first aid to any burn or scald as soon as possible. This will limit the amount of damage to the skin.
WHAT TO DO:
B urns are a global public health problem, accounting for an estimated 265 000 deaths annually
WHAT NOT TO DO:
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For minor burns, including first-degree burns and second-degree burns limited to an area no larger than 7.5 cm in diameter, take the following action:
· Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool( not cold) running water for 10-15 minutes or until the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with cold compresses. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin.
· Do not use ice. Putting ice directly onto a burn worsens tissue injury and can cause a burn victim’ s body to become too cold.
· Do not apply butter or oil to the burn as this could cause infection.
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· Make sure that the person keeps warm. Use a blanket or layers of clothing( avoiding the injured area) to prevent hypothermia occurring, when a person’ s body temperature drops below 35 ° C. This is a risk when cooling a large burnt area, particularly in children and the elderly.
· Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the burn, reduces pain, and protects blistered skin. If bandages are not available, cover the burn with a layer of cling film over the burn, rather than wrapping it around a limb. A clean, clear plastic bag can be used for burns on the hands or feet.
· Take an OTC pain reliever. For pain relief use aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or paracetamol. Ibuprofen and naproxen will also help to prevent swelling. Minor burns with reddened skin and no blisters may be treated with a topical burn spray. Use a skin care product that protects and heals skin, such as aloe vera cream or an antibiotic ointment.
· Do not break blisters as these are more vulnerable to infection.
· Do not use fluffy cotton or other material that may get lint in the wound.
CLASSIFICATION Burns are classified based on their depth, however it is important to understand that burns are not static and may mature. In a matter of hours a first degree burn may involve deeper structures and become a second degree burn. Sun burns are a perfect example of this which may just appear red but a day later may blister. Similarly, second degree burns may evolve into third degree burns. This is what makes urgent treatment so important.
18 | MAY 2017 Pharmacy Magazine
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