Burns

[Matt In Oklahoma]

So this week I did some welding, no big deal welded a few things got around and went to bed. I had a rough night but managed sleep as I was tired. Awoke the next morning to find the entire bottom of my left arm from bicep to wrist was burned. It was a flash burn, like a sunburn, from the heat and light of the welder spark, that had progressively gotten worse thru the night.



Treatment was twofold. First was pain management. I did what I do for everything that hurts, I ignored it. That worked fine however as the morning wore on the second part of treatment kicked in and the skin burn worsened. I had packed a soft ice pack on it, with a layer of t-shirt between the pack and ice pack, on the way to work but that was pretty temporary. I put some fresh Aloe Vera plant on it at work but it still got worse. I then got treatment from a medic with silvadene cream and a gauze wrap. I cold repacked it after work and the wife had a spoonful of the silvadene cream stashed so we used it. We need more, a lot more. I have small stuff to treat burns in the trifold and the blowout kit but not near enough.

So I need 2 things, one is more cream and the other is a brain that tells me to wear the leather sleeves laying right there on the welding cart.

What all do you have and/or need?

This was a first degree that was very close to a second because of a series of mistakes I made. Do you know what to do with each degree of burn? Here is a good resource:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-burns/FA00022

So what all can you add to the treatment of burns for me the ijit that is voted most likely to be hurt?

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Cool wet compresses, changed often. The moisture evaporates and helps cool the skin. After it starts to get better, you can add a topical steroid cream, hydrocortisone cream, to help reduce the inflammation. Of course Aloe, from the plant instead of a tube, seams to help as well. Ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory can help with the inflammation and discomfort.


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[justanothergunnut]

silvadene cream is the ****e.. I keep a good amount of that myself. As well as burn gel brand in packets and impregnated gauze and xylocaine gel. I keep burn specific medical modules because I have had bad burns and they are no fun.

[xdpatriot]

This is about as good as it gets. This really brings up the need for a good medic around and some training. I can tell you from personal experience, I have 3rd degree burns on over 60% of my body, the only real pain relief is what qualified medical personal can give you at a well stocked hospital. I shudder to think of a situation like that post SHTF. Good post. Brings up a huge what if.

silvadene cream is the ****e.. I keep a good amount of that myself. As well as burn gel brand in packets and impregnated gauze and xylocaine gel. I keep burn specific medical modules because I have had bad burns and they are no fun.

[justanothergunnut]

I strongly believe in the "module" approach to medical supplies. I keep lots of different stuff but when possible I like to keep supplies grouped to need. Pictured below is a Burn module. It includes infused gauze and burn gel dressings as well as gloves, shears, Coflex wrap and additional burn gel in packets. Sealed in a vacume packed zip lock bag I just can't think of better solutions to known medical emergencies. I keep them for Dental, burns, wound trauma, and wound closure. Also pictured are Silavadene cream and xylocaine cream. If you have ever had a burn and used these two meds you know their value. For burns they are in my opinion essential.