First aid for burn injuries

Here are self-care steps for managing burn injuries.

It can actually happen so suddenly you enter the kitchen to start cooking and the next moment you scream aloud wondering how you grabbed that burning hot pan without even thinking. Astonishingly, most burn injuries do take place while you are at home. If you have ever come into contact with heated objects like a heated iron, stove, water heater or simply hot coffee or water, then you probably know how painful a simple burn injury can be. You must have held the burnt area under tap water and probably covered it with an ointment. But, is that the right way to handle all burn injuries? The answer is 'No.'

A burn injury is not always superficial. When anything hot comes in contact with your skin, it damages that part, resulting in death of skin cells. Skin damage due to burns is dependent on the intensity of heat and the amount of time for which the skin is exposed to heat. Therefore, the type and severity of burn is identified by looking at how deeply the skin tissue has been damaged.

Burn injuries can be of 3 types: superficial burn, burn injury of partial-thickness and burn injury of full-thickness.

Identifying how deep your burn injury is

If you see that the surface of your skin has turned red without any blisters, then your injury is a mild, superficial one. It is also called as 1st degree burn which affects the epidermis. These injuries generally heal within a week's time, and there is nothing to worry about.

If you see that your skin has turned pale pink in colour and is extremely painful, then you might be suffering a partial-thickness burn, also called as 2^nd degree burn. The burnt area might also develop blisters. Deeper burns often make the skin excessively dry or moist and blemished.

A full thickness burn injury is a 3^rd degree burn where all the layers of skin get damaged. The skin appears brown or clear white in colour. It turns dry and leather-like. A 3^rd degree burn destroys the nerves under the skin. Therefore, they are not painful.

In a 4^th degree burn, the heat penetrates deeper structures of the skin and reaches the tendons or even joints and bones.

Managing burn injuries

First-Aid

Burn pain can be very severe at times and the nature of pain may also change throughout the recovery process. Although with medical help you will be able to get rid of the pain in a better way, there are several things that you can do instantly to reduce burn pain (till the time you see a doctor). (Read: 8 home remedies to get rid of burn scars/marks)

• Burn injuries caused by direct heat can be cooled under tap water for 10-15 minutes. Never use ice on a burn injury. It can cause additional damage to the burnt area due to a sudden cooling effect.
• 2^nd degree burn that develop blisters can be soaked in water for about 15 minutes. Dry gently. Do not wipe or break the blisters immediately. It might cause an infection and increase pain.
• Cover the injury loosely with a thin film or bandage to protect it against infections that can delay healing time.
• A simple dressing may be need if a blister has broken open. Don't cover the injury directly with cotton. Use a simple gauze bandage soaked with paraffin. Then cover with a cotton layer and wrap with a crepe bandage.
• Check the dressing after 24 hours. Change the dressing, if needed.
• Don't cover the burnt area with gel, cream or ointment until the burnt area has completely cooled down
• Burns caused by chemicals should be handled carefully. Check the label of the chemical product before proceeding with first-aid.
• For severe burns, see a doctor immediately.

Medication

Pain due to mild burn injuries can be managed by over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. But these should be taken with caution. Topical medications are also widely available without prescription. But, always read the labels and follow the instructions carefully. Do not apply creams on infectious wounds. (Read: Ibuprofen why you shouldn't pop these pills indiscriminately)

If over-the-counter medicines cannot relieve your pain, your doctor might prescribe you stronger pain relievers, opioids, anti-anxiety drugs or muscle relaxants. In case the injury acquires an infection, intravenous antibiotics may be given.

Natural sources such as aloe vera gel and honey can give a soothing effect. They are antiseptic in nature and also help the wound to heal faster. Make sure you apply them only when the burn has neutralized (when the redness, burning sensation and discomfort has significantly reduced). (Read: 5 home remedies to soothe burns)

In some cases you mightbe administered a tetanus booster to avoid the risk of infection. No matter what type of burn injury you have suffered, it's always better to see a doctor.

For more articles on diseases and conditions, check out our diseases & conditions section and for videos, check out our YouTube Channel.