Burns are a form of skin injury which can be caused due to electricity, radiation, chemicals, light or most usually, heat. Most burns only affect the upper skin but severe burns can harm the blood vessels, bones and muscles. Treating burns is important as they are very common and can lead to permanent disfiguring scars.

These injuries can be further complicated through infection, respiratory distress and stress. Burns can be fatal, but there have been many developments which can be administered at the victim to prevent any permanent damage, either on the skin or on the intellect. There are many first aid measures which can be implied to treat or help in the treatment of the wounds.

1. The primary thing to be done is to stop the burning at the wound source and the burn wound should be cooled. If the burns are dry or powder burns, then brushing of the powder should be done first. Only the wounded area should be rinsed with large quantities of clean water.
2. Directly applying the ice can complicate the injury. The wounds shouldn’t be kept in cold water for more than twenty minutes as this can lead to hypothermia.
3. The wound should be thoroughly cleaned followed by soft patting. Medical services should be called for immediately. In the meantime, the wound should be touched as little as possible.
4. If the victim is a child, then he/she should be kept as calm as possible and distracted so that he/she accidently doesn’t touches the infected area. Instead of touching, several creams (for e.g. aloevera) can be applied which help in sucking the heat out of the wounds and also provide internal cooling.
5. Keeping the patient on the burn recovery bed prevents sores and pressure at points which can ease the pain of the victim.
6. Treatment of the patient in a burn care unit is more helpful rather than treating in a local hospital. The victim should get the wound bandaged daily as dirt or other bacteria can cause infections. Keeping the burn as dry and clean as possible can heal the wound faster.