Accidental burns can happen all too easily around the home \u2013 and when they do, it\u2019s easy to panic and make things worse. Here are some quick tips for assessing and dealing with burns.<\/p>\n
How to Recognise if a Burn is Serious<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to be able to recognise how severe a burn is, so you can think fast about the best course of action or treatment.<\/p>\n First-degree: <\/strong>A first-degree burn is painful, but it is the least serious type of burn and the easiest to deal with. The skin will look red and may become inflamed or swollen. This can usually be treated at home.<\/p>\n Second-degree: <\/strong>A second-degree burn is more serious and more painful. The skin will look intensely red and splotchy, with blisters and swelling. It\u2019s best to seek medical attention for second-degree burns, although very small ones may be treated at home.<\/p>\n Third-degree: <\/strong>A third-degree burn is very serious. It destroys both the outer layer of skin, and the layer underneath. The skin will either look blackened, or very dry and white. The burn victim might actually not feel any pain at the burn site, because the nerve endings will be damaged. This is an emergency situation that requires medical help immediately.<\/p>\n Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Dealing with Burns<\/strong><\/p>\n Most household burns are caused by hot liquids, fire, electricity or cleaning chemicals. Here\u2019s what to do if a family member or friend gets burned.<\/p>\n First, quickly remove the source of the heat and smother any flames. Then assess the burn.<\/p>\n A third-degree burn requires professional medical care, and this might also apply to large second-degree burns. Call an ambulance or emergency healthcare hotline immediately. The tips below apply only to first-degree or smaller second-degree burns.<\/p>\n Do:<\/strong> Remove any clothing or jewellery at the site of the burn.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t:<\/strong> Do not try to remove any material that is stuck to the skin. Rather run cold water over it, and then cut away as much as you can around the burn.<\/p>\n Do: <\/strong>Cool the burn, within the first 20 minutes if possible. Hold the burned area under cool (but not cold) running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain subsides.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t: <\/strong>Do not use ice or very cold water, as this sudden drop in temperature can cause the body to go into shock, especially in young children.<\/p>\n Do: <\/strong>Cover the burn using sterile gauze or a clean cotton sheet. Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on the burn site.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t: <\/strong>Do not apply any ointment to the burn. This includes Vaseline, egg white, butter, and any type of oil or lotion.<\/p>\n Do: <\/strong>Give the victim an over-the-counter painkiller to relieve the pain of a mild burn.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t: <\/strong>Do not give Aspirin to very young children, or to children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu.<\/p>\n If you keep a clear head and act quickly, you can minimise the pain and damage caused by common household burns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n Burns: First Aid. 2012. Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/first-aid\/first-aid-burns\/basics\/art-20056649<\/u><\/p>\n Burns: home treatment. Retrieved from: http:\/\/www.webmd.com\/first-aid\/tc\/burns-home-treatment<\/u><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Accidental burns can happen all too easily around the home […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12239,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[146,1,42,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-may-articles","category-uncategorized","category-your-wellness-body","category-your-wellness-family"],"yoast_head":"\n