Minor Burns

posted 11/29/2008
Happy Thanksgiving! This past week, we’ve been busy decorating the house, cooking turkeys, keeping the wood stove stocked and beginning our Christmas cookie making. As the weather gets even colder, heat is a greater element in all of our lives. The holidays can mean using the stove more, wood fires, and burning candles. With the blessings of the season can come minor burns. A minor burn is one that causes minor pain, may be slightly blister producing, and is in a relatively small area of the body, usually smaller than a quarter. It’s important to prevent burns whenever possible. Be extremely careful with the use of fires, candles and stoves around small children and those with impairments. If you get burned, take the following immediate steps:

Stop the external burning. Remove the heat source from you or remove yourself from the heat. If clothing is on fire.. Stop-drop-and roll.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if the burn is severe or may compromise breathing or circulation.
Remove any thing that may swell including rings, bracelets and other jewelry that could cut off circulation.
Stop the continued burning by applying something which is cold and wet. This will help to neutralize the heat trapped in the skin and stop the burning from going deeper. Usually running the burn under cold water for 10 minutes will accomplish this.
Do not dress the burn with anything that is oily or greasy. While it may help to relieve the pain, it can actually trap heat inside the wound and make the burn more severe. If needed, soak a clean cloth in cold water and apply it to the area. Leave blisters intact and don’t wrap the burn too tightly.
Be careful to never freeze the skin in your attempt to cool the burn. It will actually do further damage.
Seek medical advice from your physician if the burn is larger than a quarter or is deeper than a blistered burn (second degree) or is in a sensitive area of the body like the face or over a joint.
If in doubt, administer immediate first aid and call 9-1-1. Help is on the way.

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Chief Jim Cole from San Juan Island EMS has been a Nationally Registered Paramedic for more than 20 years and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Community Health and a Master of Art Degree in Higher Education. He is designated as a Chief Medical Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a Senior Wilderness Medicine Instructor with the SOLO School of Wilderness and Emergency Medicine. Suggestions for future topics can be sent to chief@sanjuanems.org.