| As the do’s and don’ts of how to apply first aid | | | | When you are being trained in first aid, it is highly likely |
| to a burn continue to be debated, the sophisticated and | | | | that you will be advised not to use any products on |
| highly developed burn treatment products of today | | | | burns except for cold water. This is probably down to |
| remain at the centre of the discussion. | | | | possible legalities, company policies and to remove any |
| Minor burns and scalds can occur quite easily in our | | | | possibility of human misjudgement and error. After all if |
| day to day lives and even when using a range of | | | | you are told not use anything, there is no doubt as to |
| simple household items. If you use hair straighteners or | | | | what you can and can’t do. However despite |
| tongs, you will surely have picked up a few burns in | | | | these teachings, you will probably recall the shocking |
| your time and of course there are the old offenders | | | | images taken in the aftermath of the London bombings |
| the cooker and its hot pots and pans, and the kettle. | | | | one of which included a woman with a white mask |
| When we pick up these minor burns we will often not | | | | over her face? The woman had received burns to her |
| think that much about them and will perhaps just run | | | | face and that white mask was a specialised |
| the burnt area under the cold water tap for a few | | | | impregnated burn dressing. That burn dressing would |
| seconds. Often this is all that these small burns require | | | | have undoubtedly been applied by a highly qualified |
| but burns should really be assessed before any | | | | emergency professional in order to prevent further |
| treatment is applied. | | | | damage by cooling the burn (in the same way as |
| Prompt first aid will generally enable them to heal | | | | water would) and to provide protection against |
| naturally and well, but the advice of a medical | | | | infection and foreign bodies entering the burn wounds. |
| practitioner should be sought if there is any doubt as to | | | | If you are going to use specialised burn treatment |
| the severity of the injury. When assessing the burn | | | | products then it is essential you are using safe, tried |
| and level of required first aid treatment, it is important | | | | and tested CE marked products. There are a couple |
| to consider the circumstances in which the burn has | | | | of leading brands in this area, the main one being |
| occurred and its size, depth and location. There are a | | | | Burnshield. The Burnshield burn first aid products are |
| few key rules to help assess and explain the size of | | | | popular in consumer, industrial and medical fields due to |
| burn, for example, an area similar to the palm of | | | | the fact that the Burnshield technology has been |
| patients the hand (including the fingers) is classed as | | | | applied to many forms of burn first aid items and |
| 1% of the body surface area. Anything this size or | | | | product applications. Burnshield products are sterile, |
| above, regardless of its depth should be checked out | | | | specially impregnated products and dressings that |
| by professionals. There is also another size and | | | | work by dissipating heat and therefore stopping the |
| severity measuring method used for extensive burns | | | | burning process, and by also providing a protective |
| known as the ‘Rule of Nines’ which breaks the | | | | barrier against infection and foreign bodies. |
| body into eleven sections, each equating to 9% of the | | | | Full details of the Burnshield Emergency Burn |
| body surface area. These sections are; the head, | | | | Treatment can be found on the website of their |
| chest, abdomen, left and right arms, upper back and | | | | nominated UK distributor. First Aid Warehouse are able |
| lower back, the right thigh, left thigh and lower right and | | | | to offer fantastic deals on the full range of products |
| left legs. | | | | including burn dressings, burn first aid kits and burn |
| In all cases, when the skin is damaged by burning, the | | | | blankets. All of which are particularly useful over the |
| skin can no longer function effectively as a natural | | | | bonfire night period. |
| barrier against infection in the body, it should also be | | | | They are the leading online diThey are the leading |
| noted that the skin and flesh continue to burn even | | | | online distributor of Burnshield and burn care products |
| after the source has been removed. So, not only is it | | | | and first aid and medical equipment and accessories, |
| imperative that the burnt area is protected against | | | | including first aid kits, blood pressure monitors and other |
| infection, it is also essential that the burning process is | | | | essential medical and first aid items. The highest quality |
| halted to avoid further damage. This is where | | | | is offered at the lowest prices with delivery direct to |
| specifically designed burn treatment products come in | | | | the door. |
| extremely useful and prove their worth. | | | | |