What are burns and scalds?
At the end of this
unit, you should be
able to:
• Describe the
different types of
burns and scalds
• List the signs and
symptoms of burns
and scalds
• Describe the
treatment for
different types of
burns and scalds
• List possible ways to
prevent burns and
scalds
• Explain what to do if
a casualty is still on
fire/explain what to
do in the case of an
electrical injury
• Explain what can be
done to make crossinfection
less likely
What are burns and scalds?
A burn is painful damage to the skin caused by heat or something that is very, very cold, chemicals, or friction (rubbing). There are different types of burns depending on what caused the burn.
What can cause a burn or scald?
Type of burn and Causes
- Dry burn
- Flames, direct contact with heat (eg. iron, cigar
- Scald
- Steam, hot liquid, hot fat or oil
- Electrical burn
- Electricity, lightning
- Cold burn
- Frostbite (see page 236, Unit7\ 27) freezing metal, liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen
- Chemical burn
- Industrial chemicals - may be inhaled (breathed in); domestic chemicals like oven cleaners, paint stripper, etc.
- Radiation burn
- Sunburn, sunlamp, radioactive source such as X-ray
