Burns
Burns
Burns can be caused by direct dry heat (eg fire, roasting tins, welding equipment), wet heat (scalds), radiation (including sunburn), chemicals and electricity.
Treatment is broadly the same for each, which involves cooling the burn with running water and covering with something that doesn’t stick, but there are other factors to be aware of.
Signs & Symptoms
Superficial burns (to the outer layer of skin) will be red, sore and swollen.
Partial thickness burns, which goes through the epidermis and dermis layers of skin will be raw and blistered.
Full thickness burns penetrate to at least the subcutaneous fat layer. It may look pale, charred or waxy. However, because nerve endings may have been damaged, there might not be any pain.
Treatment
Run the burn under cold running water for at least 20 minutes. Be careful to ensure that the rest of the casualty does not suffer from effects of cold.
Carefully remove jewellery and clothing as soon as possible, before swelling starts. But don’t remove anything that is stuck to the injury.
Cover – if you don’t have a burn dressing, clean plastic works well, perhaps from an unused roll of cling film. Rest the plastic onto the burn, don’t wrap it.
Call 999/112 if you need further assistance.
Do not:
- Use ice to cool the affected area
- Burst blisters
- Touch the burn
- Apply adhesive dressings
- Apply creams or ointments
- Remove anything stuck to the burn
Chemical/acid burns
Assess the situation – wear protective equipment and only approach if safe to do so.
If the chemical is a solid, such as a powder, brush any residue off the skin.
Remove clothing – pull upper body clothing from the back to avoid touching the face.
Wash with cold running water for at least 20 minutes. NOTE: do not use water on phenols, dry lime, muriatic acid, concentrated sulphuric acid or elemental metals.
If the chemical is around the mouth or nose, ask the casualty to cough and blow out of nose.
If there are burns to the face, prioritise irrigating these areas – avoid washing the chemical into eyes, nose or mouth.
Call 999/112.
Sunburn (or radiation burn)
- Remove the casualty to a shaded area – ideally indoors.
- Ensure the casualty is hydrated with frequent sips of water.
- Cool the area in a cool shower or bath.
- Mild sunburn can be treated with after-sun cream or calamine lotion.
Electrical burn
Electrical burns can be deep where the current has passed through the body – you might only see symptoms at the points of entry and exit.
- Assess the situation – ensure contact with the electricity is broken.
- Call 999/112.
- Treat as you would any other burn.
- Be prepared to start CPR, as electric shocks can cause cardiac arrest.
