96 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
BURNS
Prevention:
Most burns can be prevented. Take special care with
children:
Do not let small babies go near a fire.
Keep lamps and matches out of reach.
Turn handles of pans on the stove so children
cannot reach them.
Minor Burns that Do Not Form Blisters (1st degree)
To help ease the pain and lessen the damage caused by a minor burn, put the
burned part in cold water at once. No other treatment is needed. Take aspirin or
acetaminophen for pain. Avoid giving aspirin to children.
Burns that Cause Blisters (2nd degree)
Do not break blisters. Do not put ice on the burn.
If the blisters are broken, wash gently with soap and boiled water that has been
cooled. Sterilize a little Vaseline by heating it until it boils. Let it cool and spread it on
a piece of sterile gauze. Then put the gauze on the burn loosely so it does not put
pressure on the wound.
If there is no Vaseline, leave the burn uncovered. Never smear on grease or butter.
It is very important to keep the burn as clean as possible.
Protect it from dirt, dust, and flies.
If signs of infection appear—pus, bad smell, fever, or swollen lymph nodes—apply
compresses of warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt to 1 liter water) 3 times a day. Boil
both the water and cloth before use. With great care, remove the dead skin and
flesh. You can spread on a little antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin (p. 370). In
severe cases, consider taking an antibiotic such as dicloxacillin (p. 350), clindamycin
(p. 358), or ciprofloxacin (p. 358).
Deep Burns (3rd degree) that destroy the skin and expose raw or charred
flesh are always serious, as are any burns that cover large areas of the body. Take the
person to a health center at once. In the meantime wrap the burned part with a very
clean cloth or towel moistened with clean water.
If it is impossible to get medical help, treat the burn as described above. If you do
not have Vaseline, leave the burn in the open air, covering it only with a loose cotton
cloth or sheet to protect it from dust and flies. Keep the cloth very clean and change
it each time it gets dirty with liquid or blood from the burn. Give an antibiotic.
Never put grease, fat, hides, coffee, herbs, or feces on a burn.
Covering the burn with honey helps prevent and control infection and speed
healing. Gently wash off the old honey and put on new at least twice a day.