Burns and scalds are when skin gets damaged by heat. Generally, you can treat them both in the same way.
A burn is the result of the skin coming into close contact with a source of dry heat, such as a fire or an iron. Whereas a scald occurs when subjected to wet heat, like hot water and steam.
Using the appropriate first aid to treat a burn or scald will limit the amount of damage to your skin if done as soon as possible.
Burns can cause red or peeling skin, blisters, swelling, and white or charred skin.
They can be very painful, but the amount of pain doesn’t reflect the seriousness of a burn. Even a very serious burn could be painless, in part because it could have damaged the nerves.
The severity of a burn depends on its size, depth, location, the cause and the age of the patient.
Burn Depth And Size
The skin consists of 3 layers, and the deeper the burn damages, the more serious it is.
The epidermis is the outer layer of skin. This is a superficial burn which will have only damaged the top layer skin, and will look red, sore and swollen.
The dermis is the layer of tissue beneath. This contains blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands and hair follicles. Having damaged two layers, this is an intermediate burn. The burn will look raw and it is likely to form blisters.
The subcutaneous is what the dermis lies on, and is a deep layer of fat and tissue. A full thickness burn like this is quite serious, as it would have burnt away all three layers of skin. This type of burn is likely to look pale, charred or waxy. However, it is possible that the casualty will feel no pain because of the damage caused.
The larger the area of the burn, the more severe it is as well. The size of a burn is generally measured as a percentage of the body’s surface.
An easy way to work this out is to compare the size of the burn to casualty’s hand, including the fingers. One hand is equal to 1%. If it’s bigger then you should attend A&E or call an ambulance.
Location, Age And Cause
The location of the burn affects its severity, because of how they affect the body.
Burns to the airway from inhaling hot gases can be an instant killer. Burns to the eyes can cause blindness, and burns around the chest can obstruct breathing. A burn that goes around a limb can impede the blood flow.
Seeking medical help as soon as possible can help in these cases.
Also, take extra care of the elderly and young, as it has an effect on the recovery time and seriousness. The same goes for people with medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and HIV.
Babies and young children’s skin are more sensitive to burns, so take extra care when filling baths for them. What may not affect you, could scold a child.
For the elderly, it can take longer for any injury to heal. As a result, it also makes them more susceptible to infections.
The cause of the burn or scald can also make it more or less severe.
An electrical burn happens when the electrical current flows through body tissue generating heat. As a result, it could leave the casualty with deep internal burns.
Depending on the chemical, a burn caused by skin coming into contact with a chemical can also poison, in addition to the burns.
And if the burns are the result of being in a fire, then take care to ensure they are not also suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.
Treatment For Burns And Scalds
You don’t need a first aid kit to treat burns and scalds. But you do need common sense and basic first aid knowledge.
Firstly, to prevent any further burning or scalding, remove or get away from the source of heat.
Take off any clothes or jewellery which are near the burnt area. But don’t try and remove anything which has stuck to the burnt skin, as this can cause more damage.
Then you need to cool the area as soon as possible. Avoid using any old wives tales such as butter or anything greasy, as it instead acts to retain heat, rather than cool.
When cooling a burn, it’s better to run it under a cold or lukewarm water tap for at least 10 minutes, and it will help alleviate any pain.
If water isn’t available, then you can use any cold harmless liquid (milk, juice, or beer) until you can get to a water supply. This is because they are better than not cooling at all.
You then need to cover the burn with a sterile dressing which won’t stick. Cling film is the best dressing for a burn but be sure to discard the first 2 turns of the roll to ensure it is germ-free. Make sure you don’t put it on tightly around any limbs, and then secure it on with a bandage.
If there is not cling film around, you can also use an unused plastic bag. Specialised burn dressings are also good, but don’t rely on them to cool a burn alone.
Leave blisters along and avoid the temptation to pick or burst them, and avoid touching the burn to prevent aggravation.
Seek Medical Attention If:
The casualty is a child or elderly, it is best to get a medical opinion in case they require further treatment.
And should the burn be larger than 1 square inch, goes all the way around a limb, or appears to be full thickness, then the burn is rather serious. In this case, they will need to get medical help immediately. The same also goes if the burn involves hands, feet, face, genitals or buttocks.
But if you are unsure what to do, then you should get medical advice. That way, you know you’ve done everything right.
You can call the NHS on 111, and they will tell you exactly what you should do. You can also call or visit your doctor, go to an NHS walk-in centre or visit a minor injuries unit. Foer anything really severe call 999.