First Aid Tips for Employee Burns

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

First aid kit

Burn risks for employees are highest in workplaces where people work with high heat, open flames or chemicals. However, even office environments carry some burn risks. While it is important to have a plan to deal with fire damage to your property, you also need to know how to deal with burn injuries to employees.

Burn First Aid Tips

Chemicals, hot liquids, hot food, the sun, flames, steam and electricity can all cause burn injuries. Major burns require emergency medical treatment. However, minor burns may be treated with first aid.

Know When To Seek Emergency Care

Contact 911 or take your employee to the nearest emergency room if there are signs of a serious burn:

• Burn is deep and affects all layers of the skin
  
• Skin has a charred appearance or there are patches of brown, white or black
  
• Burns cover the feet, hands, groin, face, buttocks, a major joint or encircle an arm or a leg
  
• Injury swells quickly
  
• Skin appears leathery and dry
  
• Burn is larger than three inches in diameter
  

You should also seek immediate medical attention for anyone who has a smoke inhalation injury because of fire damage. Electrical and chemical burns require emergency care. Minor burns may also need immediate care if they are on a person's mouth, eyes, hands or genitals.

Cool the Burn

For a minor burn, place the burned area under cool running water for 10 minutes. If the burn is on a part of the body that you can not place under running water, use a cool, wet cloth to ease the pain. A piece of ice can be placed in the mouth to relieve the pain of a mouth burn from hot food or drink.

Do Not Break Blisters

Blisters help prevent infections. Do not intentionally break them. If a blister breaks open on its own, gently clean the area with water and then put an antibiotic ointment on the area.

Bandage the Injury

Protect damaged skin by covering it loosely with a clean bandage. This will keep air off the injury and reduce pain.

Remove Rings and Tight Clothing

Burn injuries may swell. Gently remove rings or tight clothing from the burned area.

Use Lotion

After cooling the burn with water, applying lotion can keep the skin from drying and provide some pain relief. Avoid lotion with alcohol or other irritating ingredients.

Provide an Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever

If the person is in pain, provide them with an OTC pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen. If the person is in severe pain, medical treatment may be necessary.

Clean Damaged Areas

Once any injured employees have been taken care of, contact a fire restoration service in Ogden, UT, to clean the area. Lingering smoke smells, ash, soot and chemicals could create a workplace hazard.

Burns from fire damage or other causes can be painful and frightening for employees. The steps you take after a burn injury can make a difference in how well your employee can recover from the injury. Follow these tips and seek emergency medical care whenever necessary.