First aid for burns

The first priority is to remove the patient from the source, to stop the burning process.

Then, after performing your primary survey, you should cut and remove burned or restrictive clothing (DO NOT remove anything if it is stuck to the skin). Remove jewelry as well.

Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min.

If the burns are mild or moderate, you should irrigate them with cool water, and cover them with loose, dry dressings. Be careful not to overcool the patient to the point of hypothermia.

If the burns are critical, cover them with sterile, dry dressings, and loosely position dressings between their fingers or toes (depending on what was burned). Do not moisten the dressings on a critical burn patient unless the total burn surface area is <9%, sterile water is used, and the patient will not have to wait out in the cold for an ambulance.