Top Burn Safety Tips

2/12/2020 (Permalink)

Top Burn First Aid Tips

When residents of Santa Maria, CA, think of fire damage, images of charred possessions and destroyed infrastructure requiring extensive cleanup and restoration may come to mind. Fire and extreme heat can, however, also burn skin. Knowing how to assess and care for burns is a valuable skill that may come in handy during an emergency or even in your daily life.

1. Evaluate Severity of Burn

The first step in burn first aid is to evaluate the severity of the injury. A minor burn may affect an area less than three inches in diameter and can present with blisters or superficial redness. Major burns covering a larger portion of the body, may penetrate deep into the skin and surrounding tissue and can cause the skin to appear dry or charred.

2. Seek Medical Attention

If your skin sustains fire damage and a major burn, you should seek immediate medical care. To help alleviate pain while you wait for emergency personnel, you can cover the burn with a cool, moist cloth.

3. Cool Minor Burns

You can often treat minor burns with basic first aid. You should initiate care by applying a cool, moist compress or holding the burned skin under cool water. Because swelling may occur, you should also remove rings or other tight items near the affected area.

4. Apply Soothing Lotion

Next, you can apply lotion to help further alleviate pain and prevent the skin from excessive drying. Special lotions containing aloe vera offer anti-inflammatory and cooling capabilities, making them an ideal choice.

5. Bandage Injured Area

As a final step, you can loosely wrap a sterile gauze bandage around the wound. Be careful not to apply excessive pressure to the damaged skin.

6. Manage Visible Blisters

Blisters may help protect damaged skin from infection. While addressing the burn, be careful not to pop any existing blisters. If a sore opens, clean it and apply antibiotic ointment.

Burns can happen almost anywhere. While skin sustaining significant fire damage requires prompt medical intervention, you can often address minor burns using simple burn first aid techniques.