A burn is an injury resulting from heat, chemical, electrical or radiation energy or a combination of these agents. When burn occurs, the heat first destroys the top of the skin. If the burn progresses, the second layer of the skin will be injured or destroyed. Burn breaks the skin thus can cause infection, fluid loss and loss of temperature control. Deep burns can damage underlying tissues (third layer).

Difference between burns and scalds

Burn and scald are actually two different type of injury. Burns are cause by dry heat; you might get burn by accidently touch on the iron or fire. Whereas scalds (hot water burns) are often the result of accidents in the kitchen or bathroom of a home.

First aid treatment

Minor burns

Cool the burn with cool running water for 20 minutes to reduce tissue damage and to relieve pain.
Cover the burned area with a sterile, non-adherent dressing.
Do not use home remedies to treat burns, such as apply butter or ointments, which can cause infection.
Remove any clothing or jewellery that’s near the burnt area of skin, but don’t move anything that’s stuck to the skin.
Seek for medical advice if the area doesn’t seem to be recover.

Major burns

If someone is on fire, stop, drop and roll the person.
Cover the burn area with a dry sterile non adherent dressing if burn area is too large.
Elevate the body part that is burned above the level of the heart.
Check for breathing and pulse. Prepare for shock treatment.

Prevent burn and scald among young children

What you can do to prevent a burn:

Restrict your child to enter the kitchen.
Test the bath water temperature using your elbow before you put your baby or toddler into the bath.
Keep all highly flammables substance such as matches, lighters and lit candles out of young children’s sight and reach.
Keep hot drinks away from young children.