Burns Picture Description Aims Dressing Regime Other Considerations reddened, dry, painful, and manage exudate mechanism of injury Antimicrobial SUPERFICIAL BURN1 may have minor blister Minimise risk of infection Refer to Walk-in-Centre/ (1st Degree) First aid in all burns: A&E Apply cold water to Establish how burn Low adherent localised superficial Heat injury to the skin burn, cover with cling occurred, cause, extent and resulting in damage to the film or clean plastic depth of burn Vapour permeable film epidermis and possibly bag until treatment obtained part of but not completely Maintain moist environment Foam the dermis Usually Establish recommended as it may usually heal in 7-14 days if Lund & Browder Surface Area Calculator (guide only) healing is delayed consider: increase the risk of Adults only Infection may be present. infection Referral to secondary care - as burn depth can be underestimated Review a new burn Once healed advise after 24-48 hours to patient: reassess the Blister management Blisters have a protective function To protect newly healed condition of burn If they are not large and will not obstruct dressing or tissue The use of an emollient may Pain management patient’s movement - leave intact soothe and ease itching Assess need for Sun exposure – use of sun- Tetanus block for the first year while Large bullous blisters: it may be necessary to drain fluid to immunisation* new skin matures facilitate movement, but “de- roofing” is generally not Superficial burns Linked Information Any wound above first degree and/or bigger than 5% of total body surface area should be referred for specialist 1 assessment in A&E or burns unit *Patient Group Direction for immunisations
Burns Picture Description Aims Dressing Regime Other Considerations SUPERFICIAL BURN1 (1st Degree) Heat injury to the skin resulting in damage to the epidermis and possibly part of but not completely the dermis Usually reddened, dry, painful, may have minor blister Establish how burn occurred, cause, extent and depth of burn Maintain moist environment and manage exudate Minimise risk of infection Low adherent Vapour permeable film Foam Antimicrobial First aid in all burns: Apply cold water to localised superficial burn, cover with cling film or clean plastic bag until treatment obtained Establish mechanism of injury Refer to Walk-in-Centre/ A&E Lund & Browder Surface Area Calculator (guide only) Adults only Blister management Blisters have a protective function If they are not large and will not obstruct dressing or patient’s movement - leave intact Large bullous blisters: it may be necessary to drain fluid to facilitate movement, but “de- roofing” is generally not recommended as it may increase the risk of infection Review a new burn after 24-48 hours to reassess the condition of burn Pain management Assess need for Tetanus immunisation* Superficial burns usually heal in 7-14 days if healing is delayed consider: Infection may be present. Referral to secondary care - as burn depth can be underestimated Once healed advise patient: To protect newly healed tissue The use of an emollient may soothe and ease itching Sun exposure – use of sun- block for the first year while new skin matures Linked Information 1 Any wound above first degree and/or bigger than 5% of total body surface area should be referred for specialist assessment in A&E or burns unit *Patient Group Direction for immunisations