How can you tell if a burn is serious?
Superficial burns are red in colour and the skin is dry, swollen and sore. Deep burns also produce blisters. Full-thickness burns turn the skin dry, hard, charred and numb.
First aid for burns
The number-one priority with burns is to quickly stop further tissue damage.
Burns are caused by heat, electricity, radiation or corrosive chemicals. Burns damage the skin and potentially also the underlying tissue. First aid for burns starts with quickly cooling the skin to stop the damage from spreading deeper into the body.
The most common cause of burns is hot water.
What to do for a burn:
1
Cool
the burn with lukewarm (not cold) water for at least 20 minutes. If the burn site is large or if the injured person is a child, make sure not to overcool the person.
2
Cover
the burn lightly with clean gauze. Be careful not to burst any blisters.
3
Seek professional medical help if the burn is:
- widespread or deep
- blistering and larger than the palm of the person’s hand
- on the face, joints, mucosa or the respiratory tract
- caused by electricity, chemical exposure, radiation or steam.
Superficial burns usually heal by themselves within a couple of weeks. If you are in any doubt, call the emergency number (112).