Burn injuries are one of the most serious injuries the body can sustain, and treating them properly with water or burn cream helps them heal properly. Using the wrong treatment not only doesn’t help but can make the burn worse.

Before I started at First Response, I worked as a front of house manager for Chick-fil-A. Working for a fast-food chain naturally came with risks associated with food preparation. Between the oil, coffees, and food warmers, it is a miracle I didn’t sustain any other serious burns besides the incident I will talk about today. I wish I had been better prepared for burn injuries, but hopefully you will learn from my mistake. 

It was a normal morning until one of our team members called out and we were running short staffed on the front counter. A catering order had come in for two coffee boxes and two chicken mini trays. While trying to watch the front counter and simultaneously prepare the coffee boxes, I made a grave mistake. As I waited for another pot of coffee to brew, I had stashed the coffee box on top of the coffee maker but in my rush did not screw the lid on all the way. I ran over to the coffee once it had finished brewing and in the process of pulling the box down; I spilled freshly brewed coffee on my chest. I know, rookie mistake. I looked for burn cream in the store but we had run out. I asked our kitchen staff what I should do, and they told me to put mustard on my burn. In the first aid world, we call this applying a home remedy. A home remedy which hindered the healing process instead of helping. 

Danger of Burns

Burns are one of the most traumatic injuries the body can sustain, and hot liquids are one of the primary causes of burns. According to an article on the National Library of Medicine site, around 450,000 people will be treated for burns each year and 86% of these burns are thermal in nature. Thermal burns are injuries on the skin caused by excessive heat from scalds, contact with an open flame or hot surface. I sustained 2nd degree thermal burns through my clothing when I spilled hot coffee on my chest. Blistering and intense pain are some of the common signs associated with 2nd degree burns.

Age Groups at Most Risk of Burn Injuries

Older adults and younger children are at an increased risk for burn injuries. For instance, the American Burn Association released a document in 2019 saying 300 children are injured from burns every day and 2 will lose their life as a result of their injuries. For older adults, the older they are, the more likely it is for them to lose their life in a fire. Adults ages 85 and up are 5 times as likely to die in a fire. Cooking and space heaters are also common dangers for seniors. Regardless of age, the kitchen and the bathroom are the two most dangerous rooms in the house and burns are more likely to happen when you are stressed, in a rush, or angry.

Learn more about fire safety for seniors in this article and more about fire safety for children in this article. 

Danger of Using Home Remedies

Unfortunately, many people will use a home remedy in an attempt to heal a burn. Home remedies are things like butter, mustard, tooth paste, honey, egg whites, shaving cream, ice, or mayonnaise. All of these remedies introduce foreign bacteria into the burn and can cause infection. Oil-based remedies trap heat on the skin and cook the skin rather than accelerate healing. We seriously discourage the use of home remedies due to the danger of infection and negative side-effects.

Burn Prevention and Treatment

Burns come in varying degrees, and treatment depends on the severity of the burn.

• 1st degree burns are similar to sunburn. There will be a reddening of the skin and minimal swelling and pain. Room temperature water and aloe work well to heal 1st degree burns.
• 2nd degree burns come with more intense pain, possibly blistering or a spotted appearance to the skin. You should treat these using room temperature water and burn gels or creams.
• 3rd degree burns, if sustained, will have a leathery or charred look to the skin. If you or someone you are treating has a 3rd degree, then you should seek professional medical attention by calling 911 or heading to the hospital.

How to Prevent Burns with Education

Education is one of the best forms of prevention. Being informed on the most common causes of burns for the people in your environment is essential to preventing burn injuries. As mentioned before, hot liquids are the number one cause of burns to children. Preventing these burns means caregivers take special care to keep all hot liquids out of reach and only take hot beverages in designated areas. Never allow children to be in the kitchen when food is being prepared nor carry children with hot liquids in your other hand. Turn pot handles to the back and check temperatures of liquids and foods given to younger children. A baby’s bath temperatures should never exceed 100 degrees. Finally, check your first aid kit to ensure all burn gels and creams are up to date. When treating children or adults in your work place most often you can’t use burn cream and must only use water for your burn treatment. Make sure to follow your protocols.

Taking the necessary steps to prevent burns in your environment is crucial when caring for those placed in our stead. These precautions are very simple but prevent serious bodily injury happening to our loved ones. If you would like more information or desire to be better prepared for burns or fire emergencies, take our Fire Safety course. We want you to be comfortable and confident to give people aid when an emergency arises. Our training provides you with information to take action to prevent burn injuries, but also equips you with the skills necessary to take action during an emergency. 

Sign up for an online or in person fire safety class here or request an onsite fire safety course at your workplace here.