Burn prevention
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Burn Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Burn prevention On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Burn prevention |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor-in-Chief:
Primary Prevention
To help prevent burns:
- Install household smoke alarms. Check and change batteries regularly.
- Teach children about fire safety and the hazards of matches and fireworks.
- Keep children from climbing on top of a stove or grabbing hot items like irons and oven doors.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that children can't grab them and they can't be accidentally knocked over.
- Place fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school.
- Remove electrical cords from floors and keep them out of reach.
- Know about and practice fire escape routes at home, work, and school.
- Set the temperature of a water heater to 120 degrees or less.
Lifestyle and home remedies
To treat minor burns, follow these steps:
- Cool the burn. apply a cool water (not cold) , wet compress until the pain eases. Don't use ice. Putting ice directly on a burn can cause further damage to the tissue[1].
- Remove rings or other tight items. Try to do this quickly and gently, before the burned area swells.
- Don't break blisters. Fluid-filled blisters protect against infection. If a blister breaks, clean the area with water (mild soap is optional). Apply an antibiotic ointment. But if a rash appears, stop using the ointment.
- Apply lotion. Once a burn is completely cooled, apply a lotion, such as one that contains aloe vera or a moisturizer. This helps prevent drying and provides relief.
- Bandage the burn. Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage (not fluffy cotton). Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the area, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.
- Take a pain reliever. Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), can help relieve pain.
- Consider a tetanus shot. Make sure that your tetanus booster is up to date. Doctors recommend that people get a tetanus shot at least every 10 years.
Whether your burn was minor or serious, use sunscreen and moisturizer regularly once the wound is healed.[2]
References
- ↑ Pushkar NS, Sandorminsky BP (1982). "Cold treatment of burns". Burns Incl Therm Inj. 9 (2): 101–10. doi:10.1016/0305-4179(82)90056-0. PMID 7150995.
- ↑ "Burns - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic".