Burns

A burn is slight or severe damage to your skin from heat. The severity of the damage is classed in three levels or degrees.

What are the levels or degrees of burns?

A first degree burn only reaches the outer layer of the skin. Unless the burn covers a large area of the body or affects the eyes, it will not be severe. The skin may have a few blisters with little or no swelling and appear pink or red.
Common examples of a first degree burn include sunburns or small minor burns from handling a hot object. Healing time for a first degree burn is usually two to five days.

A second degree burn destroys the outer layer of skin and injures the middle layer. A minor second degree burn appears like a first degree burn. The skin in major second degree burn will be red, blistered and swollen.

A third degree burn destroys all three layers of skin including underlying tissue and nerve endings. A third degree burn appears red with white or black charred areas. There may be little or no pain at first. Healing time for third degree burns can take weeks, months or even years to heal.

What is the first aid for a burn?

The affected area should be dipped in cold water for a first or second degree burn. A moist cold towel against the burn covered in a dry bandage is also an appropriate first aid for a first or second degree burn.

Cover a third degree burn with a wet sterile cloth or dressings. Do not remove clothing unless it is still burning or smouldering as the skin may be stuck to the clothing and seek immediate medical attention.

Never use ointments, butter, margarine or other greasy substances on burns. Grease holds in the heat which can worsen the injury.