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Burns
Injury caused by excessive heat to part of the body so as to damage jor kills the tissues. It may be due to a flame, a hot object, excessive sunlight, or boiling water when the condition is called a SCALD. There is no pratical difference between a burn and scald. Burns may also be caused by chemicals. In mild cases there may be only reddening of the skin (first degree).
In second degree there is blistering, and in third degree, the whole skin thickness is destroyed, and the area appears charred. There are tow chief dangers. First is shock, a severe form of collapse which follows extensive burns. Second is infection. When the tissues are killed or injured they cannot defend against invasion by germs, so that burns easily become infected and “fester”.
The immediate home treatment of burns (dry or wet) is to cool in cold running water; damage and pain can thus be reduced. Continue cooling until there is no further pain (up to thirty minutes if necessary). If the burn is severe odor large (e.g. a blistered area more than 1″(25 mm) across in a child or 3″ (75 mm) in an adult) shock should be treated by wrapping unburned areas with extra clotting or a blanket and giving a warm. Sugared drink if patient is conscious.
Urgent medical treatment is required for large burns but initial cooling is always necessary. Smaller burns can be covered by a freshly laundered handkerchief. Later they can be dressed with cariole cream or beta dines spray and covered with a no-stick million dressing. Do not apply creams. If “festering” occurs, consult your doctor who may give antibiotics.
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