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First
aid for burns
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to: First Aid Kit Information
Stop,
drop, and roll
If your clothing catches fire, do not run. STOP
where you are, DROP to the ground, cover your face with your
hands, and ROLL over and over to smother the flames. If
someone else's clothes catch fire, push them to the ground
and roll them over and over, or smother the flames with a
flame-resistant blanket or carpet.
Cool
the burn:
For first- and second-degree burns, cool the burned area -
preferably with cool running water for 10 to 15 minutes.
This lowers the skin temperature, which stops the burning
process, numbs the pain, and prevents or reduces swelling.
Third-degree burns require immediate medical attention.
Remove
burned clothing:
Lay the victim flat on his or her back. Burned clothing may
be stuck to the victim's skin. Unless material is on fire or
smoldering, do not attempt to remove it. Remove jewelry or
tight-fitting clothing from around burned areas before
swelling begins and, if possible, elevate the injured areas.
Cover
the burn:
After a first- or second-degree burn has been cooled, apply
a clean, dry dressing to the burned area.
Don't
apply butter
or any other grease
(including medicated ointments) on a
burn. Grease holds in heat, which could make the injury
worse.
Don't
break blisters:
This could allow germs to enter the wound.
Treat
for shock:
To reduce the risk of shock, keep the victim's body
temperature normal. Cover unburned areas with a dry blanket.
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First
Aid Kits
 First
Aid kits are available in a prepackaged form. These can be
found at your local drug store or pharmacy. Some of the
larger retail stores have them also. If you wish to purchase
one, look closely at the contents listed on the outside
wrapping or container. The complexity of the contents varies
and is priced accordingly. However, you may wish to make up
one of your own or purchase additional items to supplement
the prepackaged kits. In most kits, a small booklet contains
instructions on how to apply bandages and so forth. Take
time to read these instructions. Further training on first
aid and cardio- pulmonary resuscitation is available through
the American Red Cross.
First aid kits are handy, but they need to be assembled and ready for use before
an accident occurs. It is helpful to be prepared with training and
equipment. Below is a list of some basic first aid supplies that would be
helpful beyond that of the simple band-aid.
Keep
these additional items in a separate container so they
don’t get used for any other purpose. Place the first aid
kit in your home or your automobile and away from small
children. Some of these items listed below are potentially
dangerous for children, so keeping the box locked or out of
reach is also a good idea. The items must be left alone
until they are needed, but you should check the supplies
periodically to see if all the items are still present,
clean and useable.
Acetaminophen
or ibuprofen
These
medications are not only for fever but also are good for
pain control. Pack a dosing chart with these so that the
appropriate amount can be given. Read the instructions on
dosages and uses before administering. If administrating to
someone other than your immediate family member, make sure
that the person is asked if they are allergic to either of
these before giving it to him or her. Aspirin should be
avoided in children. Liquid forms are available, however, if
you are putting this kit in your car, this liquid could
freeze and break the container.
Gauze
and adhesive tape
For
larger cuts and scrapes, gauze pads or rolls certainly come
in handy. You will need adhesive tape to keep the gauze in
place. Band-aids are good for small cuts and abrasions.
Elastic
and adhesive bandages
The
elastic bandages are good for wrapping sprained joints or
making a sling in the case of a broken arm. Be careful when
wrapping an extremity with an elastic bandage. These can
restrict blood flow if applied too tight. Check frequently
for swelling in the extremity as this may make the bandage
become too tight also. As for adhesive bandages, have
several sizes on hand to take care of a variety of cuts.
Ice
packs
Ice
packs help reduce swelling and some what reduce localized
pain. Chemical ice packs are convenient. They have separate
chemicals in two compartments within the bag. When the
liquid chemical bag is squeezed and broken, it mixes with
the other chemical and it produces a chemical reaction that
makes the bag cold. Again, this should be stored at room
temperatures; they should not be placed in an automobile
first aid kit. At home, a conventional ice pack can be made
with ice cubes placed inside a plastic sandwich bag. Cover
the bag with a thin clean cloth and apply as needed.
Petroleum
jelly (Vaseline)
Pack
this to lubricate the rectal thermometer. DO NOT apply
Vaseline or any other product
to any burn.
Calamine
lotion
This
is great stuff to relieve the itching of poison ivy and bug
bites.
1-percent
Hydrocortisone ointment
This is also
helpful for rashes that itch.
Diphenhydramine
(Benedryl)
An
antihistamine is helpful in handling any minor allergic
reactions. This product is available under many different
product names. It is available in pill and liquid form. As
with any medication, read the instructions first. Be sure
that the person getting this medication is not allergic to
it. One of the side effects of Benedryl is that of
drowsiness. Adults taking this are cautioned not to drive or
operate machinery.
Antibiotic
ointment
Good
for certain cuts that are at risk for infection. For minor
cuts and abrasions, it is advisable to clean the wound with
tap or bottled water and soap. Rinse the area thoroughly and
pat dry with a clean cloth or gauze before applying
antibiotic ointments and dressings. If a cut or scrape
appears to be infected already, consult the doctor before
administering the antibiotic ointment.
Self-injectable
epinephrine
This
is a prescription medication limited to those at risk for
life-threatening allergic reactions from bee stings, certain
foods, etc. Smaller doses are available in some areas in an
over the counter “bee sting” kit. Read the instructions
prior to use. Further medical assistance should be obtained
if someone that is allergic has been given this medication.
Small
sharp scissors
These
will be needed to cut the tape, gauze, or whatever. Be
careful that sharp scissors do not puncture any other
containers in your first aid kit. If you use the scissors
for a first aid treatment, be sure to clean them before
returning them back to the kit.
Alcohol
pads
Individually
wrapped alcohol pads can be purchased separately at your
drug store or pharmacy. A bottle of rubbing alcohol along
with cotton balls will work just as well to clean tweezers,
scissors, thermometer, etc. Never use rubbing alcohol in a
bath to help control fever. Do not apply alcohol to an open
wound. Rubbing alcohol is poisonous if taken internally. Be
sure to keep bottles of rubbing alcohol away from children.
Thermometer
Old
style glass mercury thermometers have been replaced with
disposable types.
Tweezers
These
are essential for removing ticks, splinters, etc. It is
recommended that tweezers not be used to pull out
stingers. Tweezers will squeeze more venom into the sting
making it worse. A flat object like the edge of a credit
card brushed against the stinger should remove it.
Penlight
A
regular flashlight will do, but may be too big to fit in the
first-aid box. Don't forget extra batteries.
Syrup
of ipecac
This
over-the-counter medication causes vomiting and may be
helpful in certain poison ingestions. Never give this
medication unless directed by the Poison Control Center or
the doctor. Vomiting in some poison cases will make
conditions worse. See below for contact information on
poison control.
List
of important phone numbers
Include
the pediatrician, Family Doctor, Poison Control Center, a
friend or relative you can call in an emergency, and
emergency services if "911" is not available in
your area. An idea would be to place these numbers on the
inside lid or on the outside of the box with a permanent
marker. Another suggestion would be to tape enough coins to
make an emergency phone call to the inside of the lid.
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