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Frequently Asked Questions: Burns/Do's & Don'ts
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Thermal Or Hot water burns: v
DO NOT scrub the burn and do not
apply any soap, ointment, or home remedies. apply ointment, butter, ice,
medications, fluffy cotton dressing, adhesive bandages, cream, oil spray, or
any old remedy to a burn. This can interfere with proper healing. v
DO NOT allow the burn to become
contaminated. Avoid breathing or coughing on the burn. v
DO NOT disturb or break blister
or dead skin. v
DO NOT give the victim anything
to eat or drink, if there is a severe burn. v
DO NOT immerse a severe burn in
cold water. This can cause shock. v
DO NOT place a pillow under the
victim's head if there is an airway burn and he or she is lying down. This can
close the airway. v
DO NOT use ice. v
DO NOT try to remove pieces of
cloth from the burned area. Chemical Burns: v
DO NOT become contaminated by the
chemical as you give first aid. v
DO NOT try to neutralize any
chemical without consulting the Poison control Center or a physician. v
DO NOT disturb a blister or
remove dead skin from a chemical burn. v
DO NOT apply any household remedy
such as an ointment or salve to a chemical burn. Electrical Burns: v
Don't touch a victim who has been
in contact with electricity unless you are clear of the power source.
v
Stop the burning. Remove the
victim from the heat source. v
Check for any airway obstruction,
and to check breathing and circulation. Administer CPR if necessary. v
For thermal, chemical or contact
burns, the first step is to run cold water over the burn for a minimum of 30
minutes. If the burn is small enough, keep it completely under water. Flushing
the burn takes priority over calling for help. Flush the burn FIRST. v
Remove clothing that is not stuck
to the burn by cutting or tearing it. v
Remove rings, belts, shoes and
tight clothing before swelling occurs. v
Cover the burn with a clean,
cotton material. If you do not have clean, cotton material, do not cover the
burn with anything. v
Keep the victim covered with a
blanket to maintain a normal body temperature until medical help arrives. v
Call immediately for emergency
medical assistance if the burn is
extensive/ severe/ chemical/ electrical burn/ uncertainty about the burn's
severity/ the victim shows signs of shock/ the victim has an airway burn. |
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DO NOT:
DO: