As a Mother and Grandmother, believe me when I tell you, I’ve seen almost every injury out there while camping. It’s easy to twist an ankle, get a cut, break a bone, and of course, get a burn. Let me tell you, burns are the worst, whether it’s from grease, electricity, fire, or chemical, a severe burn is not only painful, but it is debilitating and can be disfiguring. So, what do you know about burns? Do you know what to do if you have to treat a burn?
As many of you are well aware of, there are 3 types of burns:
1st degree burns which burn the first layer of skin. An example of this is a sunburn, or possible burn from scalding water. These burns are mild.
2nd degree burns are deeper and affect the second layer of skin. This can result in discomfort, pain and blistering. Grease burns usually result in this type of burn. These burns can be severe and may require medical attention.
3rd degree burns penetrate through the layers of skin and into the tissues under. Having a 3rd degree burn will most certainly result in a emergency room visit and possible hospital confinement.
4th degree burns are the worst on the burn scale. The burn penetrates the skin, the tissues under the skin and into the muscle material nerves, ligaments, tendons. blood vessels and bones. These burns are serious, dangerous, easily infected and always require medical treatment.
As stated above, infection is a serious consideration when it comes to the treatment of burns. Deep burns and open blisters are the most likely to become infected. Do your best to keep the would as clean as possible and protect the area with fresh gauze. A minor burn is less likely to become infected as the skin is rarely broken, thus allowing bacteria to enter in the wound.
You should call 911 if:
- the burned area is charred, or white
- electric shock, or chemicals caused the burn
- the burn is on the face, hands, feet, genitals or a joint
- the burn covers 10% or more of the body
What do you do if you have to care for yourself or someone else who is burned:
- Soak the burn. put the burned area in cool, not cold water. Keep it there for 5 to 15 minutes. Don’t use ice, or butter to cool the spot down.
- Removed burned clothing. If it is stuck to the skin, don’t pull it away, rather cut around the spot that is stuck. IF you have a burn this bad, you will need to seek medical attention immediately.
- Cover the burn. Use non stick gauze, or a clean cloth. If it is a mild burn, you can use antibiotic ointment. Also, don’t pop the blisters. That is a sure fire way to get an infection.
One of the most common types of burns while RVing are grease burns. It doesn’t take but a little splash of bacon grease to ruin your trip. I can guarantee that you will get at least a 2nd degree burn if that grease hits exposed skin. Follow the steps above for treating a grease burn, but be smart about it. There is a chance that you may want to visit an emergency room. Men get burned more and they are also the most stubborn about seeking proper medical attention. So, ladies, make sure your boys do the right thing.
I want you guys to be safe out there, especially around fire and grease. If you have any questions, comments or advice about how to treat burns, I know that all of us at PPL Motorhomes would love to hear from you. Just leave a comment in the section below.
Be safe out there, folks.