How to Treat Burns Immediately

Burns need to be treated as soon as possible. Major wounds that affect a significant part of the body can be fatal. These wounds have to be attended as soon as possible by health professionals. Smaller wounds, however, can be treated at your home. You just need to know what remedies you can take.

The first thing that you are going to do is to try to cool down the affected area. Putting the affected body part under running water can be effective. Be sure to make the water run as slowly as possible. High pressure can worsen the condition. Take note that the burnt part may be sensitive and a little pressure can also create an open wound if there wasn't one already present.

Be cautious when you are using ice to cool your burns. Since your sensation on the burnt part might be affected, you might not be able to have accurate perception. You can cause your skin to suffer from frostbite from keeping your skin exposed to very low temperatures for an extended period of time.

You have to know when you need to call for help. Minor wounds can be treated at home. There will be no need for you to rush to the hospital or call an emergency service. Signs of a minor wound will include redness and pain on the affected part. You can continue cooling the burnt part and apply appropriate creams afterwards. Second degree burns will require the intervention or medical professionals. You will see that there will be blisters forming on a second degree burn. If the affected area is quite large, be sure to seek consult as soon as possible. You have to be alarmed if the burnt part is already charred or is already black. This is already a third degree type of burn and immediate action is required. Call your local emergency service or rush to the hospital as soon as possible.

Old wives tales might have told you that butter or oils are effective in the treatment of wounds. This might not be the case these days. One will notice that the burnt parts can become more serious and they might heal slower if these are the treatment measures that are taken. These types of products will only increase heat in the area. Use appropriate burn ointments or sprays. Talk to your family doctor for proper medication prescription.

For serious wounds that are on the long term recovery phase, consider newer treatment alternatives such as oxygen therapy. Since oxygenation on these body parts might be compromised, you might benefit a lot from such treatment methods. Sometimes, rehabilitation exercises might be needed in order to resume normal movement on the affected body part.

There might also be a need for you to take pain medications in order to manage the pain that you are feeling. Third degree wounds might not involve pain as the pain receptors are already affected. The most painful type will be a second degree burn as the injury can extend into the deep dermis.