First Aid Training: Essential Care for Burns, Abrasions, and Blisters

What about minor burns or abrasions? In these cases, you should run cool water over the affected area for several minutes. Cold compresses can also be applied, but. But applying ice directly to the skin could cause more harm to that affected area. If you've got pain relievers available, you can administer them only as directed on the package. Some antibiotic ointments also have pain relieving properties. Antibiotic cream or burn treatment gel or spray can be applied gently followed by clean gauze. Don't wrap the gauze too tightly, please. If blisters have formed, they should be kept intact unless they are extremely painful. If a blister bursts, you should treat it as you would any other open wound. Don't remove the parts of the blister. Clean it, apply antibiotic cream and cover it appropriately. Very painful blisters can be drained, but the blister should first be swabbed with iodine. Then using a sharp needle that's been cleaned in rubbing alcohol. The blister can be pierced near the edge. Use caution. You don't want to induce bleeding from pin pricks. Appropriate barrier ointments, bandages and protective gauze can then be applied. Here's a common mistake when treating burns, cuts and abrasions. Rubbing. Never rub the affected area. Call 911 for serious burns that can't be treated simply through first aid. This would generally involve large areas, but always when there's charred flesh. While waiting for help to arrive, you should apply a cool, moist bandage to the affected area. You Never immerse a body part in cold water. Why? It could induce shock.