Do not put ice on the burn.. Quick steps to treat a burn victim before the ambulance arrives

Written by Marwa Mahmoud Elias

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 05:00 PM

Exposure to burns of all degrees is painful and requires rapid intervention, so that this burn does not leave scars or traces or become life-threatening. In this context, Dr. Abdel Rahman Asfour, consultant for plastic surgery, burns and laser at Insurance Hospitals, Cairo University, said in a special statement to “Youm7”: It is necessary to deal quickly with an injured person Burns At all levels quickly, before the ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital.

He explained the steps for quickly providing first aid to a person suffering from a burn, as follows:

• First, remove him from the fire scene and move him to another place to begin emergency procedures with him.

• Move him to a place with good ventilation where he can breathe fresh air, and try not to crowd around him so he can breathe comfortably.

• Apply “cold” water compresses to the burn, or “ice” compresses, but through insulation, such as gauze, for example. Applying direct ice to the burn increases its damage and does not improve its condition.

• Calmly, the paramedic must remove any gold or metal jewelry, chain, ring, or bracelet if the burn is long, so as not to cause suffocation at the burn site, especially in the neck.

• If the burn is very severe, insulators must be placed between the toes and the hand so that they do not develop severe adhesions that later require special surgical operations.

• The feet and hands must be raised high to avoid suffocation of the arteries, which is a common condition that occurs in cases of burns, as a result of severe swelling.

Dr. Asfour concluded his speech by transporting the patient to the hospital via ambulance, during which doctors determine the degree and type of injury and the extent of damage, as well as the possibility of the burn victim needing intensive care or not.