…..hold dressings in place, as it is likely to cause damage and pain when removed.
It is recommended that any peeling skin is not removed and that blisters, where possible should remain intact. DO NOT apply clingfilm/wrap to facial burns.
Where a person has received burns, it is essential NOT to use butter on a burn. While initially cold, the butter will warm once applied and fail to provide relief from the pain. There are no healing properties in butter for burn injuries as the butter will retain the heat making the burn worse. Butter is full of bacteria, and when applied to damaged skin, it increases the chance of infection developing. Creams, ointments and lotions should also be avoided for the same reasons and may delay the healing process.
When managing thermal burns:
- Stop the burning.
- Cool the site of the burn.
- Cover the burn.
When managing electrical burns:
- Isolate the power supply.
- Commence CPR if required.
- Cover and cool the site of the burn.
REMEMBER S.T.O.P.
STOP and assess the scene.
THINK, have I got the necessary equipment available to manage this emergency. Has anybody called the emergency services?
OBSERVE, are there any dangers to me, bystanders the victim?
PROTECT yourself at all times and keep re-evaluating the dangers throughout the emergency.
Support help and advice is available from the awesome people at the Burns Support Group Charitable Trust. Click on the link.
Tomorrow we will start our look at Asthma….
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Currently, there are temporary changes to the steps to be followed in resuscitation. These can be found in the video below or by clicking here to see the New Zealand Resuscitation Council temporary guideline recommendation.
Click the link to go to the New Zealand Resuscitation Council Covid-19 recommended modifications for delivering resuscitation whilst the pandemic remains a threat. Click play to see a short video outlining CPR modifications that should be followed during the pandemic.
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Acknowledgement
Data and information are fact-checked against various recognised sources, including the New Zealand Resuscitation Council, Health Navigator New Zealand, St John, and other recognised entities specialising in the specific subject content. It should be noted that variances in protocols exist and where necessary are identified.