# Burns - What to Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155 "2004-03-02T20:20:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/1 "2004-03-02T20:20:30Z")
An argument at work broke out today concerning the proper method of dealing with minor burns. Basically, it was whether the victim should apply ice/cold water to the burn or just let it heal itself (using vitamins and lotions)? Some argued the ice would just further traumatize the skin, others that it both reduced swelling and soothed the skin. What’s the correct medical opinion on it? ---
**Author:** ![toysarefun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@toysarefun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toysarefun)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/2 "2004-03-02T20:39:28Z")
Keep it around, apply immediately. It has healing powers unbeknownst to many men. Its also better for ulcers or acid reflux disease as they call it now than anything else. Problem is that people in America have these fetishes with taste, and it don’t taste the best. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/3 "2004-03-02T20:40:49Z")
Plenty of info on the web about this. IANADoctor so all the usual disclaimers. > [@](#): > > Review of the 4 C’s of Burn First Aid > Cool the burn. > Clean the wound. > Cover the burn. > Call or consult a burn doctor > > SOURCE: [http://www.surgery.missouri.edu/departments/burncare/burnfirstaid.htm](http://www.surgery.missouri.edu/departments/burncare/burnfirstaid.htm) On that page they mention that _cool_ water be used and NOT ice or ice water. If the burn is bigger than the palm of the person’s hand consult a doctor. If in doubt at all consult a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/4 "2004-03-02T20:43:03Z")
I guess I should add for safety’s sake: > [@](#): > > Guidelines for Referral to a Burn Center > The American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons recommend transfer to a burn center for burned patients who meet any of the following criteria. Questions about specific patients should be resolved by consultation with the burn center physician. > > Second and/or 3rd degree burns covering more than 10 percent of the patient’s total body surface area in patients of any age. > Third degree burn greater than 5 percent in patients of any age. > Any 2nd or 3rd degree burn that could cause functional or cosmetic impairment to the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, and major joints. > Electrical and lightning burns. > Chemical burns. > Burns involving inhalation injury. > Circumferential burns of the extremities and/or the chest. > Burns combined with other trauma where the burns are a greater threat of mortality or morbidity than the trauma. > Burns in patients with preexisting medical conditions that may make burn resuscitation and recovery more difficult or present a risk of mortality. This includes diabetes, chronic obstructive lung diseases, and coronary artery disease. > Hospitals without qualified personnel or equipment for the care for children. > Burn Injury in patients who will require special social, emotional, or long-term rehabilitative support. This includes cases involving suspected child abuse, substance abuse, etc. > References > > American Burn Association. Hospital and Prehospital Resources for Optimal Care of Patients with Burn Injury: Guidelines for Development and Operation of Burn Centers. Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation. 1990; 11: 98-104. > American College of Surgeons. Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient: 1993. American College of Surgeons. 1993; 64. > > SOURCE: [http://www.surgery.missouri.edu/departments/burncare/abaguidelines.htm](http://www.surgery.missouri.edu/departments/burncare/abaguidelines.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/5 "2004-03-02T20:46:14Z")
Dang…I should have read more closely. The above list does not seem to be a list of when to go to the hospital but rather when a hospital needs to refer people to a dedicated burn care center. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/6 "2004-03-02T20:49:23Z")
> [@toysarefun](#): > > Its also better for ulcers or acid reflux disease as they call it now than anything else. Have you (or anyone else) got a cite for this that isn’t either pushing quack medicine, selling the stuff, or talk out their ass? I suffer from occassional bouts of GERD, which is rather unpleasant. Prescription drugs cost a bundle, and this is the first I’ve heard of Aloe being good for this. I see a number of sites making similar claims, but is there any solid clinical research? ---
**Author:** ![gbrohman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3be4f8/32.png) [@gbrohman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gbrohman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/7 "2004-03-03T04:44:34Z")
We carry a water soluble burn treatment on the Ambulance that relives pain as it stops the burning process. [http://www.water-jel.com/](http://www.water-jel.com/) [www.forburns.com](http://www.forburns.com) Burn-Jel, for minor burns, is a topical cooling gel that contains pain-killing lidocaine. For more serious burns, Water-Jel sterile dressings are saturated with the gel and can be wrapped around affected areas. Both treatments include melaleuca, a natural Tea Tree extract, which is proven to have anti-bacterial properties. The products are manufactured by Water-Jel Technologies, LLC, Carlstadt, New Jersey. I have used it on many very serious burns. You must monitor closely for Hypothermia when applying this product to large body areas. We carry authorization to use this product for our regional burn center. The training manuals still call for sterile dry dressings. Must be a Mengele on there staff. ---
**Author:** ![toysarefun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@toysarefun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toysarefun)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burns-what-to-do/232155/8 "2004-03-03T05:42:09Z")
When the test of time and the natural wonders of the world have proven themselves already. For treating minor burns, its great to have a nice healthy aloe vera plant everywhere you happen to be, thank you mother nature!, Do we all have cactus readily growing everywhere we go?, heck no. Its great for ulcers like I said already. Don’t purchase it in pill form, does that look like cactus juice?, buy the gel form, water it down yourself so you can handle the taste or slam it by the teaspoonful in the gel form and chase it with water or anything that tastes good. Since your stomach is the fastest healing organ in your body, ulcers heal in a few days, or should in less than a week. If you fast for a half day or more, and drink the juice a quart or more a day (not all at once, try sipping it) on an empty stomach the aloe will get a chance to do its work. It heals skin, your stomach is skin. Give it time and lay off the foods that seem to agravate the situation - usually high fat foods, and peppers/onions even though both have nutrients in them that will heal and/or are good for your heart and stomach I do believe. I have never heard of people being alergic to aloe vera but I guess anything is possible these days. Again…, don’t let the doctors bullwhack you…, stomach problems are usually the result of bad food, cigarettes and alcohol, or things like crack/meth. They can bill your insurance company and stick a tube down your throat if you want, and your choice is still the same…, starting eating or living better or have more of the same. Stomach and esophogal cancer is on the rise in America.