Introduction
Burns are one of the most common types of injuries, and they can be painful and life-threatening. If you've ever gotten a burn, then you know how scary it can be. You'll want to do everything possible to make sure that your burn heals as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there are many myths surrounding burns and first aid treatment that don't help at all—they may even slow down your recovery time! In this post, I'll explain why these myths exist, how they can actually hurt your chances of healing well after a burn happens, and what you should really do instead for quick relief from pain and to keep your skin intact.
Do not place ice on the burn.
- Do not place ice on the burn.
- Ice causes blood vessels to constrict, which can make the pain worse and slow down healing.
- It's also possible that you could cause frostbite if you use ice water to clean a burn injury. If your skin feels numb or cool to the touch, it's already beginning to freeze over! If this happens, immediately remove all clothing covering your burn area, apply dry heat (such as warm towels or blankets), seek medical attention right away, and call 911 if necessary.
Do not try to remove clothing or jewelry that has been burned.
Do not try to remove clothing or jewelry that has been burned.
Do not apply butter or margarine to the burn. This can make it worse, as it acts as an insulator and keeps heat in contact with your skin for longer periods of time.
Do not use toothpaste on a burn. Toothpaste contains menthol, which causes cold burns when applied directly to the skin; also, it may contain alcohol which can dry out your skin further and cause irritation!
Wash the burn area with water (not soap) until all traces of soot are removed from around the injury site; then cover loosely with cool compresses or iced towels on open burns; leave them on for 15 minutes before replacing them with a new one if needed for comfort
Do not try to brush off the burnt skin with a towel or blanket.
- Do not try to brush off the burnt skin with a towel or blanket.
- Don't use your hands to remove clothing or jewelry that has been burned.
- Don't use a razor blade to remove clothing or jewelry that has been burned.
- Do not apply iodine or other antiseptic ointment on the burn.
- Do not apply antibiotic cream or lotion to the burn. (If you do have any of these items in your first aid kit, discard them.)
Do not apply butter or margarine to the burn.
Do not apply butter or margarine to the burn.
Butter and margarine are not sterile, and they can cause infection. They can also make the burn worse by spreading it to more of your skin and increasing its severity. If you do use anything other than water on a small, minor burn, be sure to wash off any leftover substance before applying ice or using aloe vera gel or other remedies that may be recommended by your doctor later in this article (if they're available).
Do not use toothpaste on a burn.
- Toothpaste is not a good treatment for burns.
- Toothpaste contains alcohol, which can be harmful to open wounds.
- Toothpaste contains fluoride, which can cause skin irritation and dryness if used on an open wound or burn.
- It does not reduce pain or swelling, nor does it promote healing of damaged tissue by encouraging blood flow to the area as some people believe; in fact, some brands contain ingredients that may actually interfere with this process--for example: "Aspirin Free" varieties contain salicylic acid instead of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), which has been shown in studies conducted at Stanford University School Of Medicine that it inhibits cell division needed for proper healing after injury occurs such as burns!
Don't wash the burn area with water, unless it's covered by clothing, bandages, or pads that are wet already.
- Don't use soap, water, or hydrogen peroxide. Soap can irritate a burn, and it can also make you more prone to infection if you have an open wound.
- Don't apply alcohol or iodine. These substances will sting and burn your skin even more than plain water would so avoid using them on burns as well!
- Avoid butter or petroleum jelly (Vaseline). While these products seem like good options for soothing pain from minor burns, they trap heat in your skin instead of protecting it from further injury; this increases tissue damage and slows healing time significantly.
- Do not apply toothpaste directly onto the burn area--it may feel cool when applied at first but then begin to sting once all its menthol has evaporated away! Toothpaste contains tannin which constricts blood vessels making it difficult for blood to flow around damaged tissue sites; this could lead to complications such as hypothermia if left untreated over time due to lack of sufficient oxygen supply needed by our body cells' survival needs."
Don't use butter or petroleum jelly on a burn, except for partial-thickness burns when covering them with plastic wrap and tape.
When treating burns, it's important to keep the wound clean and free from infection. You should not use butter or petroleum jelly on a burn, except for partial-thickness burns when covering them with plastic wrap and tape. Butter and petroleum jelly will not help the healing process and can actually cause more damage by trapping heat in the skin, causing more damage than good. They may also cause allergic reactions or bacterial infections if you don't clean off any residue thoroughly before applying new bandages each time you change them out during treatment periods (usually daily). If there is any chance that your child might have an allergy to either item--say he/she has eczema--you should avoid using these products altogether until further notice from your pediatrician!
Use only cool compresses or iced towels on open burns that are over 1 inch in diameter; leave them on for 15 minutes, then replace them with a new one if needed for comfort.
- Use only cool compresses or iced towels on open burns that are over 1 inch in diameter; leave them on for 15 minutes, then replace them with a new one if needed for comfort.
- Do not use ice or cold water on burns.
- Use a cool compress or a bag of frozen vegetables (such as peas or corn) wrapped in a cloth to reduce swelling and pain. Leave the compress on for 15 minutes, then replace it with a new one if needed for comfort. Do not apply butter, petroleum jelly, toothpaste, or any other cream to the burned area.
- Do not attempt to brush burnt skin off with a towel or blanket.
- Put the burned area under cool running water for 3 or more minutes
Burns need to be cleaned as soon as possible
- Clean the burn with cool water. Water helps to wash away any dirt or debris that may have gotten into your skin.
- Wash the burn with soap and water. This will remove any remaining debris, as well as reduce pain and swelling by removing dead cells from your skin.
- Remove all clothing and jewelry from the burned area, including socks or stockings if they're stuck to your foot by melted shoe leather! Don't touch anything that's been in contact with a flame--it could cause further injury if you put it back on without first cleaning yourself up properly first (this includes buttons)!
- Do not apply butter or margarine to the burn! You might think this would help relieve some pain but actually does nothing except add unnecessary calories to one side of an already bad situation.
- Apply burn cream at the first sign/symptom of a minor injury (like when you feel the heat coming off something hot), even before symptoms show themselves fully formed so long as no blisters appear yet--it'll prevent further damage while also providing instant relief from pain thanks to its analgesic properties.
- Cover open burns over 1-inch diameter immediately after washing them out thoroughly with cool water; this will help prevent infection while giving relief from pain caused by exposure
Conclusion
We hope that you found this article helpful and informative. The most important thing to remember when treating a burn is to stay calm, keep yourself and others away from the source of heat and never apply any kind of ice directly onto the skin. If you have any questions about first aid for burns or need more information on how we can help with your next project, please contact us today!