First Aid for Burns PDF

« Elevate the burned body part(s) above heart level when possible. Avoid contact with the burned area. « Gently cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist, sterile bandage or cloth. If you are dealing with a major burn, dial 911 or call for EM assistance. Caution: * Do not remov...

« Elevate the burned body part(s) above heart level when possible. Avoid contact with the burned area. « Gently cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist, sterile bandage or cloth. If you are dealing with a major burn, dial 911 or call for EM assistance. Caution: * Do not remove burnt clothing. Do make sure the victim is no longer in contact with smoldering materials or exposed to smoke or heat. « Do not immerse large severe burns in cold water. Shock could result. Chemical Burns Chemical burns occur when skin is exposed to a corrosive substance. Chemical burns follow the standard three burn classifications; however, they can occur without any source of heat, can occur immediately upon contact, but may not be immediately evident. They can cause tissue damage under the skin without immediate signs of damage to the skin's surface. Symptoms of a chemical burn include redness, Irritation, and either pale skin or black dead skin; sometimes blisters may form. Treatment for Chemical Burns: « Remove chemicals causing the burn. Brush off any dry chemi- cals with a cloth and rinse off the affected area under cool water. Remember to protect your own skin, eyes, etc. « Take off clothing or jewelry. Remove any article of clothing contaminated by the chemical. Again protect yourself from direct contact with the contaminated clothing. « Gently cover over damaged area with a loosely wrapped dress- ing or clean cloth. Always seek emergency medical assistance if the burn penetrates the first layer of skin, burn occurs in your eyes, on your hands, feet, face or over a Major joint. 120