Burns can be a result of many factors such as heat, corrosive substances and friction whereas scalding accidents are caused by wet heat, hot liquids and vapors. Extremes in weather conditions, like excessive cold or heat resulting in severe radiation like that from intense sun rays can also produce burns. If first aid and emergency care is not practiced in a timely and efficient manner, some burns can lead to a life-threatening situation. This is why knowing the basics of first aid is very crucial for every responsible adult, especially when treating a burn victims, as a thorough examination and correct rescue techniques can make the difference between life and death at times.

First aid steps for dealing with burn victims: assessing the burn

• In order to determine the severity of a burn and the method of treatment, including the cause of the burn, the first aid giver needs to check whether the burn victim’s airway is involved, what is the depth of the burn, and what is its extent.
• The extent of the burn determines whether the victim may suffer a shock like a tissue fluid/serum leakage from the affected area, which is usually replenished by fluids from the circulatory system.
• The need for correct assessment is very vital in dispensing proper treatment to the burn victim as is determining the cause of the burn since this may also signal any other possible complications.
• Burns carry a serious risk of infection, which increases according to the size and depth of the burn since the skin, which is the human body’s natural barrier, gets destroyed in the process, leaving it exposed to germs.
• The first aid giver can establish the extent of burn damage by using the Rule of Nine. This is a guide used to calculate the extent of a burn as a percentage of the body’s total surface area and to assess what level of medical attention is required. For healthy adults, a partial thickness burn of 9 percent or more can lead to shock and call for immediate hospitalization wherein 1 percent is estimated to being an area approximating that of the casualty’s hand.

While there are pleasant things about the whole growing up scenario, like getting more freedom, earning your own money and determining your hours of fun and play, there is also another essential part: cuts and bruises. Knowing the basics of first aid helps ones deal in a timely and efficient manner with grazes and small wounds caused by cuts. Home treatment and a good dose of tender loving care do the trick and this is the primary aim of first aid: to promote healing and to minimize risk of infection.

Top tips for dispensing first aid for cuts

• The best way to tend to a cut or scrape of the skin is to thoroughly clean the area near the wound with soap and water while exercising caution in removing any foreign material, like dirt or bits of grass, that may be embedded and are likely to cause infection. The affected area should be kept clean and dry. Soap should not be applied directly on the wound as it may irritate it further.
• To keep infection and dirt at bay, one can cover the grazed area with a cotton gauze bandage or even a simple band-aid after it has been allowed to absorb any first aid ointment, like Bacitracin or Neosporin. These work to prevent infection. However, health experts opine that such products are best avoided on the hands and feet beyond the first day because they can delay healing.
• The first aid measures need to be consistently practiced till complete healing takes place and the wound should be washed regularly with soap and water everyday. Scrubbing is at best avoided to allow the wound to heal.
• Products containing hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or any form of iodine solutions should be avoided when treating wounds as these can delay wound healing and do not actually help prevent infection, as may be the common misconception.
• If the cut is minor, simple cleaning helps avoid infections. If there is bleeding, it needs to be stopped as soon as possible and most minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own.
• In the event a cut does not stop bleeding on its own, the first aid giver can apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth/bandage and hold the pressure continuously for 20-30 minutes. Avoid checking to see if the bleeding has stopped as this can cause further damage/dislodge the fresh clot that may be forming and cause bleeding to start again.
• Medical assistance is called for if the blood spurts or continues to flow after continuous pressure.
• If dirt or debris remains in the wound after washing, the first aid giver can use tweezers cleaned with alcohol to remove the particles. If debris remains embedded in the wound even after cleaning, a doctor’s opinion is necessary to determine possibility of further health risk and the need for a tetanus shot.
• However, emergency health experts are of the opinion that if a wound is cleaned thoroughly, it reduces the risk of tetanus.