First Aid for Burns: Cooling with Water

Causes

Burns are mainly found at home and can be caused by:

• Car accidents
• Not well closed hot water pots
• Electricity combustion by defective appliances
• Touching hot surfaces such as cookers and irons
• Morning of hot liquids such as tea, coffee or soup (especially in children)
• Unsafe use of fireworks
• Careless use of production spirit in barbecue
• Careless handling of electrical appliances
• Detect gas leaks with a burning match (use soap solution)
• Playing with matches
• Walk away with a burning pan
• Clothes catching fire from falling asleep with a burning cigarette
• Works with flammable substances near a flame
• Too hot bath water (always check with the elbow)
• Too hot water cans (dangerous in paralyzed patients)

Symptoms of Skin and mucous membranes

• Skin: Redness, gray to yellow-white or black skin, scaling, blistering (with clear liquid), pain (not always indicative of severity), swelling, nausea and/or vomiting, shock (pale and clammy skin, weakness, blue lips and nails, decrease in alertness) due to fluid loss.
• Mucus/Airway: Burns by inhalation of smoke, steam or chemical vapours, dark or black mucus, burnt lips and mouth, voice changes, wheezing, breathing problems, coughing.

Lightning stroke

In lightning discharge, typical burns with the appearance of a fern leaf can occur. Patients are often short unconscious and may then experience speech problems, confusion, memory loss, hearing and facial problems. Cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrest may also occur. After impact, the current has disappeared and the patient can be safely touched.

Ernst van de Brandwon

The severity of a burn is determined by:

• General condition of the patient: Children under four years of age and elderly people are at higher risk of complications and death.
• Depth of the wound: First degree, second degree or third degree burns.
• Clothing of the patient: Natural tissues burn without residue, synthetic tissues burn in the skin.
• Location of the burn: Face, hands, feet and genitalia are particularly vulnerable.
• Extensive burn: Based on percentages of body surface area.
• Burning cause: Steam, chemicals and contact with warm objects or fire.

First Aid: Cooling with Water

• Small burns: Cool the wound directly with cold to lukewarm water (not in ice water!) for at least five to fifteen minutes. Then use a clean, cold, wet towel to reduce pain. Cover the wound with a dry, sterile dressing or clean dressing. Use painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol and moisturizing lotion after cooling.
• Larger burns: Let the patient stand still, lie on the ground and roll with burning clothes. Use thick materials to put out the flames and then pour plenty of water over the patient. Call emergency services immediately. Check breathing and start resuscitating if necessary. Cover the burn wound with a dry sterile bandage or clean cloth. Remove jewelry and increase the burnt body part if possible. Do not directly touch the patient in the case of electricity combustion.

First Aid: What Certainly Not Do

• Clothes: Do not let go with burning clothes. Do not use nylon material to put out the flames. Do NOT remove clothing that adheres to the skin.
• Cooling: Do not use cold water or ice to prevent hypothermia and shock.
• Care: Do not use ointment, butter, ice cream, medication, oil or other household products. Do not breathe, blow or cough on the burn. Do NOT puncture blisters or dead skin.
• Food and drink: Do not give food or drink to severely burnt patients to prevent suffocation and complications in possible surgery.

In case of persistent complaints or severe burns, it is important to always seek medical attention.