For families with children, it is easy for burns to occur. What are the correct first aid measures for burns at this time if the housekeeping cannot handle the situation well, which can easily worsen the wound? Let’s take a look together.
1. Rinse the wound with tap water, whether it is a hot water burn or a steam burn. First, lower the skin temperature of the burn to reduce further damage to the area. At the same time, rinsing with water can also reduce pain. If the wound is not broken, soak for about 10 minutes. If the wound has already been opened, do not soak it again to avoid infection. If the burn area is too large, the entire body should be immersed in the bathtub. You can also use a towel soaked in water to apply to areas that cannot be rinsed with water. Recommended reading: What traditional Chinese medicine is good for burns? Treatment of burns
2. Don’t take off your clothes urgently. When the burn is in a place covered with clothes, don’t take off your clothes quickly to avoid tearing the blisters after the burn. You can first rinse with water to cool down, and then carefully remove the clothes.
3. Properly handle blisters. If there are blisters on the scalded area, whether or not to break them depends on a specific analysis of the problem. Generally, do not break them to avoid leaving scars. However, sometimes larger blisters or blisters located in areas that are more prone to damage at the joints need to be punctured with a disinfectant needle. If the blisters have already been broken, use a disinfectant cotton swab to dry the liquid flowing out around the blisters.
4. To bandage with gauze, apply some ointment to the burned area first, then wrap with clean gauze. After two days, remove the gauze and examine the wound. If there is any improvement, continue to apply some ointment before applying the bandage. A typical burn can heal within two weeks, but if an infection is found at the wound site, immediate medical attention should be sought.
5. Protect the wound, avoid direct sunlight on the burned area, do not touch water on the wound after dressing, and do not move the burned area too much to avoid friction with gauze and increase the healing time of the wound.
6. When a third degree burn occurs, the treatment should be as follows: if the burn is too severe, cover or expose it with clean gauze first, and then quickly seek medical attention. Do not apply medication to the wound.