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Did you know that more than one million people in the United States
are treated for burn injuries every year?
According to the Burn Institute, a non-profit health agency, most
burn injuries and deaths – approximately 80 percent of them, in fact – are
preventable.
In the Glynn County area, burns from
boiling water and using gasoline to start fires are most common, said Capt. Neal
Mann, a paramedic with the Glynn County Fire Department.
However, burns may result from a
number of factors, including heat, chemicals and electricity, and can happen at
home, outdoors or on the job.
There are three degrees of burn
severity that you should be aware of in order to take appropriate safety
measures.
First-degree burns affect only the
outer layer of skin and are normally mild, according to Health Square, a health
information Web site for consumers.
Second-degree burns are more painful
because they are deeper and more severe.
Blisters on the burned area are a
distinct symptom of second-degree burns.
Third-degree burns are the most
serious.
They are the deepest and are apparent
when the burned skin turns white and leathery.
Not all burn injuries require
hospitalization. However, if you sustain a burn to the face or chest area it is
a good idea to seek immediate medical attention for good measure, Mann said.
For milder burns, such as one caused
by touching a hot pan on the stove or by spilling a moderately hot drink, there
are a few general safety tips that will help see you through the healing
process, according to Health Square.
* Soak the burned area in cold water
for approximately 10 minutes.
* Wash the burn gently with warm
soapy water and pat it dry with a clean towel.
* Cover the burned area with a clean,
dry bandage.
* Change the bandage regularly and
gently wash the burn with warm, soapy water when doing so.
* Keep a burn to an arm or a leg
raised or propped up for the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling.
Use only cold water and never ice
water on a burn, said Mann, who noted not to use butter on a burn because butter
actually holds in heat and slows the healing process.
Remember to call 911 for any health
emergency.
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