


The major source of burns is contact with an external source of heat. 4 Patients may even refer to irritant dermatitis (e.g., caused by hair styling procedures) as “burns.” 8 If the patient has sustained contact with a live electrical source, an immediate referral is mandatory, even if the patient has little or no outward appearance of damage, as internal injury may be severe. The patient should visit an emergency room immediately. 7 Patients should also remove any clothing that has the chemical on it.
#First degree burn treatment guidelines skin
4-6 However, the water should be sterile flushing damaged skin with contaminated water can lead to invasive and necrotizing infection. For instance, if the patient has sustained contact with a noxious chemical, the pharmacist should suggest immediately flushing the skin with copious amounts of water for at least 20 minutes. 2,3 When patients ask pharmacists for assistance in treating burns, it is critical to clarify exactly what has happened, as first aid advice is often critical. 1Ī burn is a lesion caused by heat or some other agent. Making the correct decision about self-treatment or referral can help the patient avoid infection and lifelong complications. Pharmacists see injuries ranging from trivial to serious, and few are harder to assess than the burn injury. The pharmacy is often regarded as a first resource for emergency care.
