Immediate Steps to Take After a Burn
Understanding the Urgency: A severe burn is a life-threatening injury that can cause immense pain and lead to shock, infection, and long-term disability. It’s not just a surface-level injury; it can quickly affect the skin, nerves, and even deeper tissues. Knowing how to act in the first few moments is critical to minimize damage, reduce the risk of complications, and save a life.
For the Patient or Caregiver: Recognizing and Responding to a Severe Burn
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn, it’s vital to assess the severity quickly. Not all burns are equal. A severe burn typically involves large areas of the body, blistering, or affects the deepest layers of the skin.
Signs & Symptoms of a Severe Burn:
- White, charred, or blackened skin
- Large blisters (bigger than a fingernail)
- Waxy or leathery-looking skin
- Swelling
- Lack of pain (This is a sign of nerve damage, which indicates a very deep burn.)
- Burns caused by chemicals, electricity, or fire are considered severe by default.
- Any burn on the face, hands, feet, joints, or genitals is a medical emergency.
Immediate Action (The “Stop, Cool, Cover” Rule):
- Stop the Burning Process:
- Fire: If clothes are on fire, get the person to stop, drop, and roll on the ground to extinguish the flames.
- Chemicals: Brush off any dry chemicals. If the chemical is a liquid, flush the affected area with copious amounts of cool water for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Electricity: Do NOT touch the person until you are certain the power source is off. Use a non-conductive object like a wooden stick or broom handle to separate the person from the source.
- Cool the Burn:
- Immediately place the burned area under cool (not cold or icy) running water for at least 10-20 minutes.
- This helps to reduce swelling, relieve pain, and limit the depth of the burn.
- Cover the Burn:
- After cooling, gently cover the burn with a clean, dry, non-fluffy cloth, or a sterile dressing.
- Do NOT use cotton wool, as its fibers can stick to the wound.
- Do NOT apply any ointments, oils, butter, or home remedies. These can trap heat and increase the risk of infection.
Critical “Do Nots” in a Burn Emergency:
- DO NOT break blisters.
- DO NOT remove clothing that is stuck to the burn.
- DO NOT apply ice or very cold water, as it can cause hypothermia or frostbite.
- DO NOT use any powders, creams, or home remedies like toothpaste or butter.
When to Call Veer Emergency Care IMMEDIATELY:
- The burn looks black, white, or charred.
- The burn is on the face, hands, feet, joints, or genitals.
- The burn is larger than the person’s palm.
- The burn was caused by electricity, chemicals, or an explosion.
- The person is a child or an elderly person.
- The person is in severe pain, or conversely, feels no pain at all in the burned area.
- The person is showing signs of shock (dizziness, pale skin, weakness).
Remember: Severe burns require immediate professional medical attention. After performing the initial first aid, call Veer Emergency Care for expert pre-ambulance guidance and assistance in Bangalore.