You can deal with the heat. Know your basic first-aid burns treatment

Summer is just around the corner and the sun is getting stronger. Whether we like it or not, during those hot summer months we have to deal with many types of skin burns. Some of us will only encounter sun burns and other minor irritations. But summer also brings excessive heat and wild fires, so we have to be ready. There are three types or degrees of burns:

•    First-degree burns are the least serious. Only the external layer of the skin is burned and becomes red and painful. First-degree burns usually take two or three days to heal and peel off.

•    Second-degree burns are more painful. You will be able to notice blisters and swelling due to damage to the second skin layer.

•    Third-degree burns are severe burns that damage all the skin layers. They are mostly painless because they destroy the nerves and cause permanent tissue damage. Skin my look charred or extremely white.

Minor burns, which usually include first and second degree burns can be treated at home, if they involve only a small part of the body, not larger than a couple of inches.

•    Remove all kinds of jewelry surrounding the wound.

•    Soak the burn area in cool water for a couple of minutes. Don’t use ice. Cold water will help remove the heat and ease the pain.

•    Though it is common to use butter as first-aid remedy, it is not recommended to do so as it could cause permanent damage to the skin.

•    After cleaning the area, you should apply antibiotic ointment, and cover the wound with a bandage.

•    Taking an over the counter pain reliever can also help to ease the pain.

First and second degree burns can happen around the house or outside. They usually heal in a few days but you should always watch for infection, swelling or fever. Remember to get medical help if any side effects occur or if the burn is in a sensitive area such as hands, feet, gentiles, or joints.

Third degree burns should be treated as an emergency. If it’s possible – go to a near hospital to get medical assistance or call 911 and ask for immediate help. Do not try to remove clothing that is stuck to the wound, do not apply any ointments and avoid using water as it may cause shock. Try and cover the area with water-soaked cloth or moist bandages and make sure that they are sterile.  

Remember that electrical burns and chemical burns should be treated immediately by medical staff. Go to the hospital right away as those types of injuries might cause serious internal damage.

Being prepared to an emergency is very important and can save lives when that time comes. Be ready at home or at work with a burn kit that offers different combinations of dressings, wrap/blankets and burn gels. Whether you are in the food business, welding or industry, Dixie EMS has the right kit for you. We carry a full line of quality Emergency Medical Service products for ambulance, industry, and facility care. For over 30 years, police officers, fire, rescue and EMS professionals have turned to Dixie EMS for their medical supplies. Log on to www.dixieems.com for all of your EMS medical supplies and emergency needs.

A burn is a very traumatic injury, cause by fire, chemicals, steam, electricity or any other form of heat transfer to the skin (our biggest organ). Burns on less then 10% of the body surface is considered minor. An entire hand is 1% of the body surface.

The symptoms of burns could be summed up in two parts. Minor and severe burns. Minor burns are painful and cause reddening and blistering of the skin while severe burns are painless causes white or charred area.

Home Remedies for Burns

Gently pour ice cold water immediately on the affected area or you might even try compresses of ice cubes. Do this for more than 5-7 minutes or until the pain stops. If any blister has formed, do not prick it.

The best first aid for burns is diluted vinegar. Vinegar is luckily available nearly in all households. Cover the injured area with a cloth, soaked in diluted vinegar of any kind. Vinegar acts painkilling and relaxing. If pains become stronger again, change the compress for a fresh one. Refresh the vinegar compress as often as needed.

To heal the wound that has developed due to burning, take honey and apply it all over the wound. But do it only after you’ve properly washed your wound.

Sprinkle the burned surface thickly with baking-soda, or make a saturated solution of the soda; wring cloths from it and apply, changing as they become dry. When the pain is relieved remove, and use an absorbent dressing if the burn is a very deep one.

Make a poultice of raw sauerkraut and apply it to the burned area. If you don’t have sauerkraut, use crushed comfrey root with a little honey. In fact, just plain honey on the burn may ease the pain and help the healing process.

Colgate toothpaste is a great ointment for burns. For skin burns apply ice cold vinegar right away for fast ease. Apply baking soda side of cool damp paper towel straight over burn area or wrap it with paper towel baking soda towards burn if burn is on finger.

Plantain leaves is a popular remedy for treating burns. These green weedy plants grow practically anywhere in the world with sufficient water. Just don’t confuse this plantain with the banana-like vegetable of the same name. Hit the leaf with a small hammer, enough to smash just a little bit the plant than wrap the affected area with the leaf.

It is a good idea to grow an Aloe vera plant in the sunny kitchen window. For a burn first aid, slice off a small piece of the fleshy leaf, open it, and apply the fresh sap directly on the skin burn. Aloe vera has astringent and tissue-healing properties works fabulous for skin burns.