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All Burns Are Considered Medical Emergencies.  First Aid Treatment MUST Be Provided As Soon As Possible

Minimum Required Supplies For This Type Of Injury/Incident:

•Sask. #1 first aid kit

•Facial burn dressing

•Fire Extinguisher

Definition:

•1st Degree:        Superficial part of the skin has been injured.  Skin turns red but does not blister (e.g.: sunburn).

•2nd Degree:        Epidermis and varying extent of dermis is injured / burned.  This is characterized by blister formation.

•3rd Degree:        Extends throughout dermis, into or beyond subcutaneous fat.  Nerve endings and blood vessels would have been destroyed.  This is characterized by dry, leathery and discolored (charred, brown or white) skin.

Treatment:

1st Degree Burns (Superficial burns):

•You should not need to call EMS/911 for a 1st degree burn, unless the person is in a great deal of pain or becomes unconscious.

•Administer first aid.  Ensure the person's ABC's are present.

•Perform a secondary survey and treat any non life threatening conditions.

•Cool the burn with running or standing water for at least 10 to 20 minutes.  If the standing water becomes warm, add more cool water.

•Provide continual care.  

•Arrange medical assistance if required.

•Once the burning has stopped, you can apply an antibiotic ointment and watch for infection.

2nd Degree Burns (Partial thickness burns):

•Call EMS/911 and get an AED (if available) if the burn covers more than 10% of the body, the person is in a great deal of pain, or the person becomes unconscious.

•Ensure the person's ABC's are present.

•Perform a secondary survey and treat any non life threatening conditions:

•If the burn area covers more than 10% of the person's body, call 911, get an AED (if available), and treat the person for shock.  Cool only a small area at a time.  Cooling the person too quickly may cause the person to go into shock.

•If the burned area covers less than 10% of the person's body, cool the burn with running or standing water for at least 10 to 20 minutes.  If this is too painful or the area cannot be put in water, cover the burn with a cool, moist, sterile dressing or clean cloth to cool it.

•Only remove clothing around the affected area that is not stuck to the skin.

•After cooling the burn, cover it loosely with a dry, sterile dressing, preferably non-stick gauze.

•Provide continual care while waiting for medical attention.

3rd Degree Burns (Full thickness burns):

•Have someone call EMS/911, or if you are alone, make the call yourself.  Get an AED (if available) and return to care for the person.

•Perform a secondary survey and treat any non life threatening conditions:

•If the burn area covers more than 10% of the person's body, call 911, get an AED (if available), and treat the person for shock.  Cool only a small area at a time.  Cooling the person too quickly may cause the person to go into shock.

•If the burned area covers less than 10% of the person's body, cool the burn with running or standing water for at least 10 to 20 minutes.  If this is too painful or the area cannot be put in water, cover the burn with a cool, moist, sterile dressing or clean cloth to cool it.

•Only remove clothing around the affected area that is not stuck to the skin.

•Do not try to clean a 3rd degree burn.

•After cooling the burn, cover it loosely with a dry, sterile dressing, preferably non-stick gauze.

•Provide continual care while waiting for medical attention.

•Have the person lie down and treat him or her for shock.

 

Special Considerations For Burns:

•Don't use grease or ointments on severe burns.

•Cool 2nd and 3rd degree burns with water only, not ice.

•Blisters are a natural cooling system.  Leave them in place.

•Touch a burn only with sterile or clean dressings.  Do not use absorbent cotton or pull clothes over any burned area.

•If the burn involves large areas of the head, face, hands, feet, or groin, seek medical attention.