WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
You can sustain a burn from heat, electricity, chemicals,
or radiation--including sunlight. Most burns heal in 1 to 3
weeks.
Signs/Symptoms
There are three degrees of
severity, each with distinctive symptoms:
-
First-degree burns are mild and injure only the outer
layer of skin. The skin becomes red, but will turn white
when touched. The area may also be painful to the
touch.
-
Second-degree burns are deeper, more severe, and very
painful. Blisters may form on the burned area. This type of
burn takes about 2 weeks to heal.
-
Third-degree burns are the deepest and most serious
kind. The skin becomes white and leathery, but it does not
feel very tender when touched.
There may be swelling in the
burned area. Serious burns may be accompanied by headache,
fever, and dizziness.
Care
Your doctor may prescribe an
antibiotic ointment. Use it as directed, and follow the
first-aid steps outlined below. If the burn is severe, you may
need to be hospitalized to avoid infection and receive special
care.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
Soak the burned area in cold water for 10
minutes.
-
Gently wash the burn with warm, soapy water. Pat it
dry with a clean towel, and cover it with a clean, dry
bandage.
-
You will need to clean the burn and put on new bandages
several times a day. Be sure that everything that touches the
burn is clean. Only use the burn medicine prescribed by your
doctor. When changing bandages:
-
Wash your hands well with soap and water. Dry them
with a clean towel.
-
Remove the outer bandage by cutting it off with a
pair of scissors. Do not pull off the bandage if it is
sticking to the burn. Instead, soak it in warm water for
a few minutes and then remove it
slowly.
-
Gently wash the burn with warm, soapy water. Use a
clean, soft washcloth to help remove any old cream,
blood, and loose skin. Do not break blisters. This may
increase the pain.
-
Rinse the burn with clear warm water. Pat dry with
a clean towel.
-
With a clean tongue depressor, apply the antibiotic
ointment prescribed by your doctor to a gauze pad in a
thin layer. Throw the tongue depressor away when you're
done. Do NOT put it back in the container of
ointment.
-
Cover the burn with the gauze. Be careful not to
touch the gauze that comes in contact with the burn.
Carefully rewrap the burn with a clean bandage as
directed by your doctor.
-
Keep the bandage clean and dry. Change it if it gets
wet.
-
If the burn is on your arm or leg, keep it raised or
propped up for the first 24 hours to help reduce
swelling.
-
You may use aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen for
pain.
-
Do not bump or overuse the burned
area.
-
Drink plenty of water or juice to prevent
dehydration.
-
To avoid getting burned, follow these
guidelines:
-
Wear sunscreen when you are out in the
sun.
-
Wear protective clothing and follow safety rules
when you are working with heat or
radiation.
-
Teach your children not to play with matches or
touch the stove (even when it is not
on).
-
Throw away frayed electrical cords. Have an
electrician fix all faulty or bad electrical wiring in
your house.
-
Do not touch uncovered electrical wires or
outlets.
-
Test bath water before getting into a bathtub or
putting your child in one.
-
Do not set your hot water heater too high. Usually
the dial should be set in the middle between hot and
cold.
-
Do not smoke in bed.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
You have increasing pain and redness in the burned
area or bad-smelling drainage from the burn. These are
signs of infection.
-
You develop a high temperature.
Seek Care Immediately If...
-
You develop swelling, numbness, or tingling below a
burn on your arm or leg.
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