How will you be affected by a burn?
What is a burn?
According to the World Health Organization, a burn is “an injury to the skin, or other tissues, primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction or contact with chemicals. Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (scalds), hot solids, or fire
The most common burns are small and superficial, leading to local injuries; they are often very painful.
Some burns can be extensive, and the long-term effects of burn injuries can include slow healing, disfigurement or contractures and/or joint dysfunction, which may cause psychological stress and significantly impact the quality of life. Pain management in burn patients is at least as important as burn care and burn scar treatment.
In severe cases, burn care and management can be complex and will require a multidisciplinary approach.
Burns can happen to anyone, anywhere at any time. It’s important to note that burns are preventable, though, and some simple measures can be taken to prevent burns and scalds from happening:
- Lower the temperature in hot water taps
- Keep hot drinks away from table/counter edges, out of reach of young children
- Establish a 'kid-free zone' of at least 1 meter around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared and carried
- Use a kettle with a short cord to stop it hanging over the edge of the work surface, where it could be grabbed
- Do not drink hot liquids through a straw
- Turn the handles of pans inward
More safety tips to prevent burns can be found on the burns prevention poster: Download poster
Adequate first-aid measures help to limit the pain and damage to the skin
- Stop the burning process: Remove the burn source and move the person to a safe space
- Remove all burnt clothing and jewellery if it will cause constriction
- Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes as early as possible after the injury, within 3 hours. Never use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances like butter
- Cover the burn loosely with a non-adherent simple dressing or cling film
- Keep the person warm: Wrap the body in a clean dry blanket
- Seek medical advice
Mepilex Lite
Thin-design foam dressing for managing low-exuding acute and chronic wounds
Mepitel Film
Skin protective film dressing
Mepiform
Self-adherent dressing for reduction and prevention of hypertrophic or keloid scarring
Mepilex Ag
Antimicrobial foam dressing for low to medium exuding burns and wounds
Tubifast TwoWay Stretch
Tubular bandage with a two-way stretch
'References'
