Burn Injuries

Burns often cause extreme pain, scarring, or even death. Proper treatment will minimize further injury of the burned area. Before administering the proper first aid, you must be able to recognize the type of burn to be treated.

There are three types of burns:

Thermal burns caused by fire, hot objects, hot liquids, and gases or by nuclear blast
[see: Thermal Burn Injuries].
Electrical burns caused by electrical wires, current, or lightning.
Chemical burns caused by contact with wet or dry chemicals.

First Aid for Burns

Eliminate the source of the Burn. The source of the burn must be eliminated before any evaluation or treatment of the victim can occur.

Thermal

Cover the thermal burn with any large non-synthetic material, such as a jacket. Roll the victim on the ground to put out the flames. Synthetic materials, such as nylon, may melt and cause further injury.

Electrical

Remove the victim from the electrical source by turning off the electrical current. DO NOT attempt to turn off the electricity if the source is not close by. Speed is critical - DO NOT waste unnecessary time.

If the electricity cannot be turned off - wrap any non-conductive material (dry rope, dry clothing, dry wood, etc.) around the victim's back and shoulders and drag the victim away from the electrical source.

High voltage electrical burns may cause temporary unconsciousness, difficulties in breathing, or difficulties with the heart (heartbeat).

WARNING! DO NOT make body-to-body contact with the victim or touch any wires because you could also become an electrical burn victim.

Liquid Chemical

Remove the chemical from the burned victim. Remove liquid chemicals by flushing with as much water as possible. If water is not available, use any nonflammable fluid to flush chemicals off the victim.

Dry Chemical

Remove dry chemicals by brushing off loose particles - DO NOT use bare hands because you could become a chemical burn victim - and then flush with large amounts of water, if available.

If large amounts of water are not available, then NO water should be applied because small amounts of water applied to a dry chemical burn may cause a chemical reaction.

WARNING! Small amounts of water applied to a dry chemical burn may cause a chemical reaction transforming the dry chemical into an active burning substance.

After the victim is removed from the source of the burn:

Evaluate victim for conditions requiring basic lifesaving measures
[see: Casualty Evaluation Table]
Expose the Burn
Cut and gently lift away any clothing covering the burned area
DO NOT pull clothing over the burns
Leave in place any clothing that is stuck to the burns

If the victim's hands or wrists have been burned, remove jewelry if possible without causing further injury (rings, watches, etc.) and place in his pockets. This prevents the necessity to cut off jewelry since swelling usually occurs as a result of a burn.