FIRST AID FOR BURNS
Doing the wrong thing for a burn in the first few seconds and minutes can cause painful and disfiguring consequences. The Brunswick Fire Department states that the best first aid for a burn is to cool it with water, cover it with a clean cloth and get medical care immediately. Do not use anything greasy or oily on a burn...no butter, ointments, creams or Vaseline. Do not put ice directly on the skin and don't pack a burn victim in ice.
Cooling a burn is essential because skin will continue to burn even after the fire is out or the heat source is removed. If not cooled immediately, the burn will penetrate deeper into the skin layers. The deeper the burn, the more serious it is...the longer it takes to heal, the greater the chance of infection, the greater the need for surgery and the more painful the experience. Cool water should be used to remove the heat; however, don't cool too large a burn shock may occur. Never use ice to accelerate the cooling process. It is too extreme and might damage the skin further. Putting greasy or oily substances on the burn will hold the heat in and make it worse. In addition, any ointment or grease applied to the burn wound will have to be cleaned off at the hospital or doctor's office and that can be painful.
A burn's seriousness is classified as first, second and third degree, depending on how deeply the skin has been damaged. A first degree burn appears red and sore, but not blistered. If cooled with water promptly, this burn should heal on its own. A second degree burn is blistered and painful. Third degree is white, brown or charred and may appear painless at first. Both second and third degree burns require medical attention. Cool the burn with water, cover with a clean cloth and keep the victim quiet and warm until the rescue squad arrives.
DO NOT TREAT BURNS YOURSELF. You could cause an infection or lose the use of the burned area permanently. If you are burned seriously, ask to be taken to the nearest burn hospital or flown to such a facility. Do not take burns lightly; complications can be fatal.