Burns (a heat injury to the skin caused by fire, heat, electricity, chemicals or gases)
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Emergent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?
- Breathing problems, change in mental status or loss of consciousness
- More than 1 body part is burned
- Burns on the head, neck, face or genitals
- Chemical or electrical burns
- Chemical exposure to eyes
| Yes |
No |
Seek Immediate Medical Attention!
These symptoms can be life-threatening. |
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| Burns are classified by their depth
First degree burn - the outer layer of skin is involved with redness and pain
Second degree burn - several layers of skin are involved with redness, swelling, blistering and weeping
Third degree burn - all layers of skin are involved, white or charred black, swelling, little or no pain is felt
If your clothing catches fire "stop, drop and roll" to extinguish flames
Electrical burns need medical attention; they look less serious than they really are
Burns in the elderly or very young can be more serious, always seek medical attention |
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Urgent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?
- Very large blisters from burn
- History of HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancer, heart or kidney disease
- Pain from burns lasting longer than 48 hours
- Signs of infection (pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, fever or thick white discharge)
- Tetanus shot is out-of-date (10 years or more)
| Yes |
No |
Contact Your Health Care Provider. |
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Self-Management - You can help in the following ways:
- Hold burned area under cold water for 20 minutes or apply cold compress, do not use ice
- Remove clothes and jewelry from burned area
- Cover burn lightly with clean, dry cloth or gauze
- Chemical burn - hold under cool water for 30 minutes
- Do not use cotton or apply vaseline, butter or ointments
- Do not break blisters
- If blisters break, hold under cool water, apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a sterile dressing
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for pain, if no reasons to the contrary
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