How to Apply First Aid to a Burn

Depending on the severity of the burn received, certain first aid steps may be applied to help ease the pain of the burn victim. Review these steps with your family on a regular basis to be prepared should a burn emergency occur.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Non-conductible material
• Water
• Rubbing alcohol
• Baking soda
• Soap
• Clean towel
• Sterile bandage

Use First Aid to Treat a Burn

1. Know that the first rule of burn first aid is to remove the patient from the source of the burn. If she is on fire, you can try to douse the flames with a blanket or water. If the burn is from an electrical current, turn off the power source.
2. Practice caution when aiding a victim of an electrical or chemical burn. You should only turn off the power to an electrical source when it is safe for you to do so. Likewise, you should prevent your exposure to burning chemicals by wearing gloves when assisting a chemical burn victim or handling her clothes.
3. Assess the extent of the burn received. If it is a minor burn, at home care may be the only thing required. If the burn is more severe or if other injuries have been sustained, you should contact a medical professional immediately for further assistance.
4. Run the burned area of skin under a cool stream of water if the skin is unbroken. Be careful not to break any blisters that may have formed, as this may increase the risk of secondary infection.
5. Apply a sterile bandage or dressing to the burn. You will need to keep the bandage clean and dry and be prepared to apply a new one at least once a day.
6. Do not apply a topical ointment, especially if you are seeking further medical assistance, as this may interfere with treatment or interfere with the skin's natural healing process.
7. Administer the correct dosage of an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever if the patient is capable of taking it. Even minor burns may produce extremely painful sensations that may be kept at bay through consistent treatment with OTC pain relievers.

Tips & Warnings

• Reduce the risk of sunburn by using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
• Contact emergency medical assistance or your physician should the following symptoms occur in conjunction with a burn: severe pain, dizziness, nausea, irregular heartbeat or infection.

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