Burn injuries can be very dangerous and result in numerous complications. If you or someone with you suffers a serious burn or minor burns over much of their body, it is important to get to a hospital or consult a medical professional as soon as possible. If you only suffer a minor burn, or you are unable to reach a hospital, there are some steps you can take on your own to treat the burn or at least lesson the effects.
Instructions
Treating a Burn
1. Remove the source of the burning or remove the victim from the burning area. If the burn was caused by a dry powder, brush it off. Wash the burn area with cool--but not cold--clean water. As well as cleaning the area, the water will cool the injury, which is the first step in treating it.
2. Avoid lowering the victim's body temperature. People who have just suffered burns have suffered a major shock to their whole body and suffer an increased risk of hypothermia, which can lead to death.
3. Treat the pain of the burn through the use of a local anesthetic. Most drug stores carry anesthetic creams, which may be marketed particularly for treating burns. There is also some evidence to suggest that applying aloe vera sap to a burn shortly after it occurs can reduce the size of the burn area and speed recovery, so, if you have some on hand, apply it to the burn. If the burn is still too painful, take an oral anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen. Doing so should help reduce the pain.
4. Apply a topical antibiotic to the burn area. Burn injuries have a significant risk of becoming infected, which can lead to very serious complications and applying such an antibiotic will greatly reduce the risks of anything going wrong. Most drug stores carry such antibiotics, which may also be specifically labeled for treating burns.
5. Keep the victim fully hydrated. Because burn injuries can disrupt the balance of water in the victim's body, taking in large amounts of fluid is an important part in avoiding complications and recovering quickly.
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