Minor Burns- Home Suggestions

1. Immediately place the burned area into cold water or apply a cold compress for 10-15 minutes. This will cool the hot skin and reduce further injury.

2. Burned skin must be kept clean. Wash it with soap and water. Putting some local anaesthetic like Bactine or benzocaine (Solarcaine) on the burn may allow you to clean and dress the burn with less pain.

3. If a blister breaks, apply an antibiotic ointment (Polysporin and others) and cover with a bandage, gauze or non-stick Telfa. Apply enough ointment to prevent the bandage from sticking to the injured skin.

4. If the skin is unbroken, you can apply a moisturizing skin cream 3 times daily. Some of these may contain aloe, a natural healing substance.

5. If a burned area is throbbing you may feel better if you elevate it. Place your arm in a sling or your foot on a pillow.

6. If you do not have stomach problems, you could use an anti-inflammatory pain medication like ASA (Aspirin and others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others). See page 99 for more details. Do not use ASA (Aspirin and others) in anyone under 20 years of age.

After using these home suggestions, answer the following.

Questions

Is the pain not controlled with the home suggestions?

or

Is there spreading redness around the burn?

or

Is there red streaking going up the limb?

or

Is there a fever now?