Treatment For 3rd Degree Burn
A 3rd degree burn is the most serious degree of burn you can have. They are very painful, scary to look at, and can even be life threatening if covering vital areas or large parts of your body. These burns are mostly caused by boiling water, steam, and fire. When faced with burns of this degree you will want to take immediate action. After a 3rd degree burn has occurred, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
Unlike a first degree burn, medical attention is important when a 3rd degree burn has happened. Immediately after the burn has occurred, even if it is a small area, you want to call 911. Because of the seriousness of the burn, simple home remedies will not be sufficient enough. However, you should always begin treating the burn to help with pain management, and to keep the burn from getting worse.
After calling for emergency medical personnel, immerse the burn in cold water. You can run water over it, but you will want to completely immerse the area. Use cold cloths or a container of cold water. Do not use any ice as this can really cause the rest of the body to cool off too rapidly. Once the burn has cooled down, you can then remove the water. Wrapping the burn after the water has been removed will help to keep the burn clean.
It is important not to put anything on the burn other than the water. With a mild burn, the use of creams can help with soothing the pain and start the healing process. However, because of the extensive damage of a third degree, you only want to dress the wound. Many health professionals highly recommend the use of a Duoderm dressing in the case of a third degree burn. It does some moisturizing, without applying any jelly.
Wrap the burned area loosely with the dressing. Besides the pain, wrapping the area too tightly will restrict the flow of blood, cause oxygen to cease flowing, and will also cause the skin to come off when the dressing is removed. After wrapping the burn, keep the area elevated. This will help keep blood from rushing to the area. Try to keep the arms and legs raised above the heart level. If the head is on the burn, or on the neck, keep them straight and elevated.
Keep the person who has been burned calm and comfortable. They will be in great pain, that could cause them to go into shock. Give them sips of water to keep them hydrated and talk gently to them. Do not let them see the area if possible until the emergency medical personnel arrive.
Treating a 3rd degree burn is a long process once in the hospital. There could be the use of skin grafts, and other medical treatments according to how severe the body has been burned. Once the treatment is complete, the unfortunate side effect is that there will be burn scars. However, if you apply treatment rapidly after the burn has occurred, you can lessen the amount of scarring.
