"How to Immediately Treat Burns and Scalds in 5 Easy Steps?"
In daily life, people need to cook and prepare meals, during which they are prone to burns from hot oil, hot soup, and steam. The pain often causes panic, leaving people unsure of how to handle burns. Today, let's discuss how to respond to burns. What should one do if accidentally burned?
Step 1: Rinse
Upon discovering a burn, immediately rinse the affected area with running tap water for approximately 20 minutes. Cooling can reduce pain, edema, and the risk of scabbing. The more promptly and for a longer duration the burned area is cooled, the lesser the damage will be.
Step 2: Remove
Remove or cut away clothing from the burned area, taking care to protect the epidermis, particularly any loose skin, as it serves as a protective layer for the wound.
Step 3: Soak
Soak the affected area in running tap water for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Cover
If the burn is severe, gently cover the wound with plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag. This keeps the wound clean and prevents infection. Plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag is ideal as it does not adhere to the wound, allowing air not to come into contact with the skin surface, thereby alleviating pain.
Step 5: Send
If necessary, seek medical attention promptly.
How to Treat Oil Burns
- Rinse with cold water: When burned by oil, rinse the wound with cold water or soak the swollen area in cold water. However, if the wound has blisters or broken skin, avoid immersing it in water.
- Apply salt lightly: After rinsing the burned area, gently apply a light solution of salt water to the affected area to reduce inflammation.
- Apply raw pear slices: If pain persists, apply raw pear slices to the wound. This helps with astringency and pain relief, quite effectively.
- Apply aloe vera: If available, cut an aloe vera leaf and apply it to the affected area. As aloe vera is a cooling plant, it can effectively lower the temperature of the affected area. If your burn is not severe, applying aloe vera can even heal the wound.
- Egg white for anti-inflammation: Lastly, mix egg whites, cooked honey, or sesame oil evenly and apply to the burn. This mixture can reduce inflammation and pain.
Common Misconceptions About Burns
Misconception 1: No pain, no harm, no need for treatment.
Fact: Mild burns can be excruciatingly painful as they only affect the epidermis, where pain is most acute. If deeper skin tissues are damaged, pain may be absent.
Misconception 2: Popping blisters after a burn speeds up healing.
Fact: Not all burn blisters should be popped. If the blister is small and painless, leaving it intact prevents infection. If the blister is large and painful, it should be punctured with a sterile needle to drain the fluid.
Misconception 3: Applying soy sauce relieves pain.
Fact: Many parents instinctively apply soy sauce to a child's burn, but this can be harmful. Soy sauce contains salt, which can dehydrate and shrink wound cells, worsening the injury. Additionally, soy sauce is not sterile and may cause infection.
Misconception 4: Using ice for cooling.
Experts caution that severe burns can damage deep nerves, causing local numbness. Excessive ice cooling, without the warning of pain, can lead to frostbite. It is best to use running liquid instead.
