Burns and scalds send more than 2 million people to a physician's office each year and cause between 3,000 and 4,000 deaths, the Merck Manual reports. Scalds, the most common injury in children, KidsHealth reports, can occur from tap water that's too hot, spilled hot liquids or steam. Burns are classified as first-degree, second-degree and third-degree, with third-degree burns, the most serious, extending through the entire dermis and into the fat underneath. First-degree burns affect only the top layer of skin, the epidermis, while second-degree burns affect the epidermis and part of the dermis. Second-degree burns are further classified as superficial or deep. Prompt treatment helps prevent further damage from burns or scalds.
Step 1
Assess the person.. Examining the person and the burn to determine the seriousness helps determine whether to call 911. If the person is touching a power line, don't touch them; call 911.
Step 2
Determine the severity of the situation. Call 911 for any person who isn't breathing or who is unconscious. Second-degree burns often blister, while third-degree burns may appear charred or white. Every third-degree burn and any second-degree burn larger than 2 or 3 inches requires immediate medical attention.
Step 3
Cool the burn. Apply clean cool--not cold--water to the burned area immediately and continue for at least five minutes for a first-degree burn and 15 minutes for a second-degree burn, FamilyDoctor.org recommends. For a third-degree burn, cover with a moist sterile cloth, if possible. Never use grease, butter or any other substance on a burn.
Step 4
Remove clothing if possible. Clothing holds in heat. If clothing is stuck to the burn, don't try to remove; continue applying cool water to stop the burning process.
Step 5
Raise the person's feet to prevent shock. Shock occurs when blood is diverted away from the brain and heart. Elevate the person's feet by about 12 inches and lay the person flat.
Step 6
Elevate the burned part, if possible, especially with a deeper burn, to reduce swelling. Severe edema normally occurs with deep second-degree and third-degree burns. Remove all jewelry or any other potentially constricting objects.
Step 7
Give pain medication. If the person is alert and in pain, give them over-the-counter analgesics for pain.
Step 8
Call the physician. For small first-degree burns or superficial small second-degree burns, call the office for instruction. See the physician for large first or second-degree burns.
Step 9
Apply burn ointments as ordered by the physician. Follow medical advice when it comes to further burn treatment.
Tips and Warnings
- Teach children to "stop, drop and roll" if clothing catches on fire. Create an exit plan in case of fire in the house and practice it; only 60 percent have a plan and only 25 percent practice it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.
- Never leave matches or lighters around small children; children playing with fire account for one-third of all preschool deaths from fire, Burn Survivor reports.
