First Aid for Fire and Boiling Water Burns: Essential Steps to Treat Immediately
Fire and boiling water burns are common causes of burns, and proper first aid is extremely important to prevent serious complications. In this article, we will guide you through effective first aid steps when encountering this situation.
1. First Aid Steps for Burns
a. Eliminate the Cause
First, remove the cause of the burn and move the victim out of the danger zone. This applies to both fire and boiling water burns.
b. Dealing with Fire Burns
- Extinguishing the Fire: Use sand, water, a coat, a cape, a blanket or a large piece of cloth to smother the fire on the body. If the fire is not burning directly on the clothing, quickly cover the skin with a large layer of cloth to protect it from contact with the fire.
- Remove Burning Clothing: If clothing is on fire, quickly tear off the burned parts or cover the victim with a large layer of cloth to smother the fire.
c. First Aid for Both Types of Burns
- Soak in Cool Water: Soak the burned skin in clean, cool water for at least 15 minutes. This will help soothe the wound, reduce pain and prevent the burn from spreading. Avoid using ice or ice water as it can make the condition worse.
- Bandaging the Wound: Use a clean, sterile gauze or a small clean cloth to cover the burn, to avoid contact with dirt.
- Monitoring and Treatment: If the burn is minor and the area is small, you can care for it at home. However, if the burn is large or severe, apply first aid and quickly take the victim to the nearest medical facility.
2. Handling Burning Clothes
When clothing is on fire, handle it calmly:
- Prevent Movement: Keep the victim still to avoid spreading the fire.
- Put Still: Lay the victim on the floor with the burned part facing up.
- Extinguish the Fire: Cover and smother the fire with a large shirt or blanket. Do not use flammable plastic.
- Roll on the Floor: Allow the victim to roll on the floor to extinguish the fire. If possible, pour water or non-flammable liquid over the burned area.
- Do Not Remove Clothing: Do not remove burned clothing, as this may bring the fire directly to the skin and cause further damage.
3. Important Notes When Treating Burns
- Avoid Using Creams and Ointments: Do not apply toothpaste, burn cream, or snake fat to the burn, as it can cause infection and make the condition worse.
- Do Not Apply Ice: Use cool water to soothe the burn instead of ice, as sudden exposure to cold can cause the skin to contract and the burn to take longer to heal.
- Be Careful With Clothing: If the burn is large, do not remove clothing that is stuck to the wound. Use scissors to cut off any clothing that is stuck to the wound if necessary.
- Remove Hard Objects: Remove any hard objects around the burn to avoid swelling and pain.
- Keep Clean: Make sure the burn is always clean, do not apply unknown medications to the wound to avoid infection.
4. Preventing Burns in Children
- Supervise Young Children: Children are often curious and active, so they need to be closely supervised. Make sure that objects that can easily cause burns such as gas stoves, electrical outlets, and hot water bottles are kept safe and out of reach of children.
- Suitable Arrangement: Arrange furniture in the house in a reasonable way, especially the kitchen area and hot appliances.
First aid for burns is an important skill that everyone should master. Performing first aid steps correctly not only helps reduce pain and prevent complications, but also protects the health of you and your loved ones in emergency situations.
