How to Treat Second Degree Burns

Video Transcript

CAPT. JOE BRUNI: Hi. I am Capt. Joe Bruni with over three decades of firefighting and emergency medical service experience. What we are going to go over and discuss is the proper treatment for a second-degree burn. Second-degree burns normally will involve blistering of the skin. First-degree would be just reddening of the skin, but blistering of the skin there are thermal injuries in the deeper layers of tissue of the dermis or skin layer. The proper treatment would be to first cool the burn area by applying either cold compresses or cool compresses or running cool tap water. That should be applied until pain relief is achieved for a short period of time. Then some type of clean sterile dressing should be applied over top of the burn side injury that can possibly be held in place or taped down with some kind of medical tape, if any is necessarily handy. The burn injury and blistering area should not have its blisters broken or popped. That will increase chances of infection. Applying cool water will reduce the chances of infection, reduce reddening and swelling and also increase healing time. To reiterate, remember, second-degree burns will involve some type of blistering of the skin, not just reddening such as the first-degree burn does. To properly treat the second-degree burn, apply cool compresses or cool water of some type for a short period of time to relieve pain and discomfort and apply some type of clean, dry dressing to the area, being careful not to pop or break any blisters as this will increase the chances of infection.