Burns and Scalds Safety Topic

According to the American Burn Association, 1.1 million burn injuries need medical attention in the United States each year, 45,000 require hospitalization. A significant portion of injuries occur on the job where employee sare exposed to variety of hazards.

Burn Classification

• First-degree burns only affect the top layer of skin. First-degree burns,(ex:sunburns) skin is mild lyred and dry with some localized pain, typically heals within a few days.
• Second-degree burns affect additional layers of skin. Second-degree burns result in blistering that are quite painful and can take several weeks to heal. Take caution with blisters as they are prone to infection.
• Third-degree burns are most severe and affect all layers of skin, muscle and nerve tissue. The burn area appears charred with patches of underlying tissues that have been exposed appearing white. There is a great threat of infection from these burns. These burns are often extremely painful, depending on the amount of nerve tissue destroyed.

Treatment

• Remove or cut away loose clothing around a burned area, never attempt to remove clothing that is stuck to the burn.
• Immerse the burned area in cool water – notice or ice water – or apply clean wet cloths to areas that can’t be immersed.
• After cooling, cover the affected area with a sterile bandage or clean cloth (if burns cover a large area of the body, use a clean sheet). Do not rub burned areas nor break blisters. Never use lotion, ointment, or butter on a burn.
• For chemical burns, carefully remove contaminated clothing and flush the affected area for 15 minutes.
• Consult medical assistance for second-degree burns and minor chemical burns. Call for emergency assistance for third-degree burns and chemical or second degree burns covering a large portion of the body.