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BURN CARE
GENERAL
INFORMATION:
What
is it? A burn is an injury to the skin from heat, electricity
(e-lek-trih-sih-t), chemicals, or staying out in the sun too
long. Infants and young children have the highest risk of
a burn injury. Most burns usually heal in 1 to 3 weeks.
Types
of burns: There are three kinds of burns:
First-degree
burns include only the outer layer of skin. The skin may be
red. It may also hurt when touched. A first-degree burn is
a mild burn and usually heals in a few days.
Second-degree burns are deeper and more severe. The skin may
be red, swollen, and blistered. There is much pain when the
skin is touched. This burn takes about 2 weeks to heal.
Third-degree burns are the deepest and worst. The skin is
tough or leathery. It may look white, brown, black, or red.
There may be no feeling when the burned skin is touched.
Signs and Symptoms: You may feel pain and swelling over the
area that got burned. Also, you may see redness and blisters.
You may have a headache, fever, and feel dizzy.
Care:
Treatment depends upon the type of burn.
Usually
a first-degree or a mild second-degree burn can be treated
at home. For a mild burn, put the skin in cold water for 5
to 10 minutes. Gently wash the burn with warm soapy water.
Pat it dry with a clean towel. Loosely wrap a clean dry bandage
over the burn. To lessen swelling, raise the burn area above
heart level as often as you can. Drink 6 to 8 glasses (soda-pop
can size) of liquids each day.
More severe second-degree and third degree burns must be treated
by a caregiver. For a bad burn, you may need to be put in
the hospital for care.
You may need pain medicine, need antibiotic (an-ti-bi-ah-tik)
medicine to fight an infection or be given a tetanus shot.
If your burn is from electricity or steam, get immediate care
from by a caregiver.
If your burn is from a chemical, remove chemical from your
skin or eyes with large amounts of cool running water (for
at least ½ an hour). Be sure to remove any clothing
carefully so not to get more chemical on you.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You
have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan,
you must learn about your burn and how it can be treated.
You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers.
Work with them to decide what care will be used to treat you.
You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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