Burn out

A Burn is caused by a dry heat, such as a flame or hot cooker ring,
A Scald is caused by a wet heat, such as steam from a kettle,, hot tea etc
There are other Burns such as Cold Burns, you can get these from frozen items, getting stuck to your warm fingers or hand.
The other less common burn is from chemicals such as acid base liquids you would use for drain cleaning etc.

A burn/scald can be dealt with easierly at home if small. When dealing with children or large burns on adults a classing chart is used to assess the size and when to seek medical attention, this we call The Rule of Nines ( see further down for details).
If the burn fits the Rule of nines then Medical attention is required and 999 should be called.

We measure burns by degree's -
This means how deep a burn goes into the skin layer

A first degree burn - where the skin has become red but no blisters have formed
A 2nd degree Burn - where there are blister's forming - a dressing may need to be applied to this burn - Medical attention may be required.
A 3rd degree Burn - where there are no blister's and no pain - the burn is deeper than the skin layer - MEDICAL ATTENTION is required for these burns.

TREATMENT

It doesn't matter which burn or the degree of burn, the basic treatment is the same COOL IT !!

It is a burn/scald - so most time, it is hot - so COOL IT down, under cool running water for 10 mins*.
* If it is still hot after 10min of cooling - put it back under for a further 10mins. You can use a mix of ice and water together BUT be sure not to put ice directly onto the skin - use a T-Towel etc, otherwise you will have a Ice Burn.

With Larger burns - place the child/adult directly into the the shower or bath and run cooling water over them and call 999 keep them there until help arrives - don't get them out - just reassure them that all will be well !!!!
Take your everyday pain relief such as Paracetamol don't be afraid to take pain relief if required.

After cooling - need to find a non fluffy non-stick dressing such as: Menolin (one side of dressing is shiny so the shiny side goes to the burn) or Jelonet (netted gauze that is covered with yellow paraffin better known as vasolin) with gauze on the top is used in the UK, but if you have nothing else to hand, cover with cling film, to protect the burn and any blisters that may have appeared. If hands or fingers, feet or toes you can place the affected area in a plastic bag with a little cold water tie the top with tape - then SLOSH water over area - seek help from GP Practise nurse for a dressing.
Aloe Vera dressing products can also be very good

DO NOT put a plaster over the burn as you will end up pulling the skin off - OUCH !!

Blister's are bubbles of sterile fluid and should be kept intact if at all possible, if they burst DO NOT worry just cover with a dressing (as mentioned above).
DO NOT - put butter or creams onto the burn - as this will act like putting fat onto a hot frying pan - good for frying eggs but will not achieve to goal of COOLING the burn. Also if you have to attend hospital for further help - we will have to take off the cream before we can help you - this will be extremely painful

DO NOT - Pull off stuck on clothes - if you pull then you will pull off the skin below - seek medical help.

With chemical Burns the principles are the same - just need to wash off the chemical away from the rest of the body - so as not to move the chemical to a different area. Cover and seek medical help.
Cold Burns - just cover as above and seek medical advice if worried.

Just a little reminder - the picture below is of Paul Eddington famous actor for playing in shows like Yes Minister and The Good Life

He died of Skin Cancer in Nov 1995

Borrowed from the Red Cross site this quick quiz is here to see if you have benefited from the above content good luck.

Should I put butter or cream on a burn? I've heard that will help.

Should I use ice to cool the burn?

How do I know when to go to hospital?

The answers can be found throughout this squidoo or on the Red Cross link above

I've heard I should put a plaster over the burn to make sure it doesn't get infected. Is that right?

If clothes are stuck to the burn, should I try to remove them?