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Home Care Tips: Burn First Aid

Posted: 11/23/2015 2:29 PM by Interim HealthCare

Burns are one of those household hazards that can occur any time of year, but with all of the cooking that is likely happening around your aging loved ones' home during the holiday season, the risk for suffering one of these painful injuries increases. Knowing how to properly and effectively respond to a burn helps give you more confidence and peace of mind making enjoying time in the kitchen together a positive and enriching part of the experience with your loved ones.

Keep these tips in mind so that you and your aging loved one can be prepared in the event of a kitchen burn while you are cooking together this holiday season or at any point throughout the year:

• Remove wet clothing. Burns caused by hot liquids such as boiling water and hot oil are particularly prevalent. If this type of burn happens, remove wet clothing immediately, unless the clothing is sticking to the skin. This removes much of the heat and allows the skin to breathe and cool, helping to minimize injury.

• Do not peel. Burns caused by sticky liquids such as hot sugar or syrup can be extraordinarily painful, but they are made even worse if you attempt to peel away the sticky substance while it is clinging to the skin. This can cause the skin to come away, leading to much more serious injury and the potential for infection. Instead, submerge the area in cool water and continue to pour cool water over it until the material hardens and can be removed more easily.

• Cool it off. Never apply cold water or ice to a burn as this can cause serious damage to the nerves and skin tissue. Instead, run cool water over the burn until the pain subsides.

• Wash it. Preventing infection is a vital element of burn first aid, so make sure that you very carefully wash the area using cool water and mild soap. Do not scrub or peel the skin, or pop any blisters that may appear. Pat the skin dry very gently.

• Protect it. Apply a lightweight gauze bandage over the burn to keep it protected while the cooling process continues. Remember that a burn continues to impact the skin for 24 to 48 hours after the incident, and treating with cool water can help to reduce that. Applying any form of ointment, cream, or other medication during the cooling period can hold in the heat and make the burn worse.

• Treat it. Once the burn feels cooler, apply a mixture of aloe vera gel and lavender essential oils before replacing the bandage. The aloe will provide moisture and draw out heat, while the lavender offers natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties to help the burn heal.

If the burn is severe, blisters immediately, or is on the face, knuckles, other joints, or a large portion of the body, get medical attention promptly. Get in touch with an elder care agency in your area to find out more about hiring a senior home care provider who can help you to care for your loved ones and keep them safe from kitchen burns throughout the year.

If you have an aging loved one in need of home care contact Interim HealthCare today.