First Aid Burn Treatment

Minor burn treatment can be done at home. If you experience a first-degree burn, there are some simple steps that you can take for the burn treatment. Here are some steps to take in first aid burn treatment.

The first step in first aid burn treatment is to cool down the burn. Get away from the cause of the burn, and use cool water to reduce the temperature of the burn. The water should be covering the affected area for several minutes. If there is clothing on the burn, it should be carefully removed. If there is jewelry or anything constraining to the area, it should be removed as well. No oil or butter-like substances should be applied to burned areas, ever. Topical antibiotics should be used to protect the skin against infection.

The next step in first aid burn treatment is to cover the area with a dry cloth or bandage. Please note that if the burn is more serious than a first-degree burn, some of these actions are not appropriate. Second-degree burns might require professional attention. Applying cold water and removing any covering clothing from the area might be fine, but thus should only be done while waiting to see a doctor. The burn might require a prescription cream. It may take a few weeks of applying prescribed creams and wrapping a second-degree burn for it to heal.

Minor burn treatment is very different from the treatment of a third-degree burn. If the burn is extremely deep and severe, it is not a good idea to try to remove clothing. Cool water or a cool wet rag can be used while the burn victim is waiting for the ambulance. Matted clothing and dead skin may have to be removed in a surgical process. Sometimes doctors will allow the dead skin to fall off on it’s own. Another alternative to surgical removal of the dead skin is hydrotherapy, or the use of water, to loosen the dead skin.

First aid burn treatment steps that are common no matter which degree of burn you have are getting away from the source of the burn, cooling down the affected area, and covering it. You should always at least take these first aid burn treatment steps. It is very important to see a doctor if the burn occurs on your face, hands, feet or genital area.