People get burned all the time from heat, fire, the sun and even radiation. Burns like these can be categorized into three degrees of burn, depending on severity, with the first degree burn being the least serious. Chemical and electrical burns, which are very serious indeed, are not covered here.


Steps

1. Don't Panic, If you're performing first aid on someone in a lot of pain, stay calm and reassuring. Don't say anything that requires a response, as the victim may be in shock, and forcing them to talk puts them in more pain. Don't ask them if it hurts, don't ask them if they'd like a glass of water or if they want to go to the ER, don't say you're sorry. Their job is to cope with the pain. Your job is to decide what to do.
2. Determine the degree of burn:
   • A First Degree Burn is where the skin turns red, and turns white when pressed. First degree burns only damage the first layer of skin, and usually aren't that serious. Blisters don't form, so infection is not likely. These burns usually heal in 2 to 3 days, and then the top layer of skin peels off. A severe sunburn is a good example of a first degree burn. These burns are painful, but the pain is manageable.
   • A Second Degree Burn damages deeper layers of the skin's epidermis, the wetter, softer tissues underneath the first layer, where the nerves are located. Signs of a second degree burn are swelling and blistering, and it can take up to four weeks to heal. Boiling water will produce a second degree burn. Another example is a blister-causing oven burn. Pain will range from very irritating to absolutely unbearable, depending on the size and location of the burn.
   • A Third Degree Burn is very severe, not only to the area of skin but to the overall health of the burn victim. Skin may be charred or missing, and the burn can take months to heal, if at all. These are the burns that require skin grafts, as the entire layer of skin has been severely damaged. Often, a third degree burn victim feels no pain at all, as the nerves themselves have been destroyed. Third degree burns result from prolonged exposure to incredible amounts of heat, like house and car fires. Any and all third degree burns require immediate medical attention.
3. Treat a First Degree Burn:
   • Run cool, not cold, water over a minor first degree burn.
   • Treat the burn with a soothing burn relief product like aloe vera, or a cooling spray. Keep covered from sun, either with a loose bandage or sunproof clothing.
   • Treat pain with an over the counter pain reliever like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve. Do not use Aspirin.
4. Treat a Second Degree Burn
   • Cool the burn. The important thing is to lower the temperature of the skin and prevent further damage, which may take a while. Do not use aloe, honey, butter, or any other similar substance, as a second degree burn causes the skin to slough away, leaving the tender lower layers of skin susceptible to infection. These substances should not be used on open wounds.
   1. • Run cool, not cold, water over the burned area for at least 15 minutes.
      • Another good way to cool a burn is to take several clean washcloths and submerge them in a container of ice water. One at a time, gently apply the washcloth to the burned area, swapping them when the washcloth becomes warm. Do not directly apply ice to the skin's surface, as cold of that severity can further damage skin.
   • Assess the severity of the burn. Along with the degree of the burn, the severity is indicated by its size and location. A burn on the hands, face, feet, genitals, or other area with weak, sensitive skin is far more serious than a burn in a less painful location, because complications in these areas could result in serious consequences. The size of the burn is also important. Second degree burns larger than 3 inches, or on these danger areas, require immediate medical attention.
   • Treat the burn with an antibiotic cream. Place a dry gauze bandage over the burn and attach it to the healthy skin with medical tape. Repeat the treatment at least once every day. Keep free of dirt, and away from direct sunlight. Salve the burned area with damp cloths, if needed.
   • Check the burned area daily for infection. Signs of infection include: increasing pain, green or blue discoloration, heated skin, pus, increasing redness, swellings or any kind of discharge. If you see these signs, get medical attention immediately.
   • As the burn begins to heal, treat the newly formed skin with liquid Vitamin E. This comes in capsules that can be pierced, but more conveniently, in small bottles, and is available at the vitamin counter at drug stores. This will reduce the risk of scarring and make the new skin itch less. Only begin the Vitamin E treatment once the skin is completely sealed from infection.
   • Make sure to always keep your scarred area covered in sunblock. Scars don't have the capacity to protect themselves from the sun, so further damage is possible if the area is burned again.
5. Third Degree Burns. If you have a Third Degree Burn, go to the doctor or hospital right away. Cool on the way with plenty of water.
6. Again, stay calm.

Tips

• Wash your hands before treating burns.
• Never pop or burst any blister caused by a burn.
• If your burn is bleeding, you do not have a minor burn, but an injury. Get to the hospital immediately.

Warnings

• These instructions are only for thermal burns.
• Do not attempt anything that you are not qualified to deal with.
• This advice should not be substituted for medical attention. If in doubt, consult a physician immediately.
• Never put ice onto a burn. This could cause a cold burn on top of the heat burn.
• Never use oil or butter on burns as this can lead to infection and prevents the burn from healing correctly.
• Using first aid treatments such as oil and butter also slow the medical workers efforts who must first clean it off before the proper treatments can begin.
• When burns heal they begin to itch. Scratching the burned area will only delay healing. Consider cutting your nails if you find you cannot stop all scratching.
• Do not pick at the scabs when the burn is healing or has healed; this might cause a complicating infection. The burn is bad enough--don't make it worse by inflammations from lingering infections.