This document discusses different types of burns, including dry, wet, radiation, cold, chemical, electrical, and specific chemicals like phosphorus, hydrofluoric acid, bitumen, and liquid petroleum. It describes signs and symptoms of superficial, deep, inhalation, radiation, and electrical burns. The key first aid treatment for burns is to stop the burning process, cool the area with running water for 20 minutes, cover with a sterile dressing, and call an ambulance for severe or large burns or inhalation burns. Specific steps are outlined for assisting casualties of different burn types.

1. HLTAID003 – Provide First Aid
Slideshow 7
Burns

2. Burns
Burns to the skin can be life threatening and require
immediate treatment.
• Burns can be classified as:
– Dry Burns – caused by flames and hot objects
– Wet Burns – caused by hot liquids or steam
– Radiation – caused by over exposure of skin to the sun
– Cold Burns – caused by exposure to extreme cold,
causing frost bite
– Chemical
– Electrical

3. Burns
• Burns are assessed according to area and
destruction (depth involved) of the skin. Due
to the destruction of the skin, the body can
lose tissue fluid and cause the casualty to
suffer from shock and be at a greater risk of
developing an infection.

4. Burns
• The larger the burn to the body the greater
risk the casualty has of developing a life
threatening condition.
• The depth of the burn is assessed as either
being superficial (partial thickness) or deep
(full thickness).

5. Burns
• If a person has suffered from a burn, your first
aid treatment is to stop the burning process,
cool the area and cover the burn.
• Superficial burns only tend to affect the outer
layers of the skin.
• Deep burns affect all layers of the skin. All
deep burns regardless of the area require
medical treatment.

6. Burns
Signs and Symptoms of a
superficial burn
• Skin will usually be red in
appearance
• Blisters
• Swelling
• Painful
• Clothing may be melted
or stuck to the skin
• Shock

7. Burns
• Signs and Symptoms
of a deep burn
• Appear pale, waxy and
sometimes charred
• Outer arear of the
burn will usually be
red
• Main area of the burn
is fairly pain free

8. Burns
Steps to assist the casualty
• Cool the burn immediately with cool running later for a
minimum of 20 minutes, if the person begins to shiver, stop
irrigation
• If possible remove jewellery and clothing which is not stuck
to the burn, before swelling occurs
• Cover affected area with a sterile dressing, if not available a
non-fluffy dress such as a cotton sheet
• Raise affected area
• Do not break blisters
• Do not use ice or ice water to cool burn
• So not apply any ointments or creams or powders
• If the burn is severe (deep or large area) call ambulance

9. Large burns or Scalds
• If a burn is larger than the casualty’s palm of
their hand, it is considered to be a large burn
and you need to call an ambulance, as the
casualty will have an increased risk of
developing infection and is at risk of shock. In
addition to the vital steps listed above, you
will need to:

10. Large burns or Scalds
Steps to assist the casualty
• Call ambulance
• Monitor the casualty for shock
• Keep the casualty warm, remove any wet
clothing and cover unburnt areas

11. Inhalation (airway)/Mouth/Throat
Burns
• Breathing in hot or toxic gas or fumes, swallowing
corrosive chemicals or drink very hot fluids can
damage a casualty’s airway, lungs, mouth and
throat. Always assume inhalation burns if the
casualty has burns or injury to their face,
eyebrows, eyelashes, nasal hairs or if you can see
carbon deposits on the casualty’s mouth or nose.
Some chemicals can cause problems that may
take several hours to become obvious. Inhalation
burns always require medical treatment.

12. Inhalation (airway)/Mouth/Throat
Burns
Signs and Symptoms
• Redness, swelling or blisters on the face or in
the mouth
• Burnt or singed hair, eyelashes, eyebrows or
nasal hairs
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Loss of consciousness

13. Inhalation (airway)/Mouth/Throat
Burns
Steps to assist casualty
• Call Ambulance
• Cool any visible burns
• Reassure patient
• Remove any constrict clothing and jewellery
from the chest and neck areas
• Give oxygen if available
• Monitor casualty’s condition

14. Radiation Burns
• A radiation burn can be caused by sunburn,
arc welding flash, reflected sunlight, laser,
industrial microwave equipment and nuclear
radiation. A radiation burn may not be painful
straight away; it may take several hours before
the casualty experiences pain.

15. Radiation Burns
Signs and Symptoms
• Red painful skin
• Swelling or blistering or he exposed skin
• Bloodshot, itchy or watery eyes
• Eyes are sensitive to light

16. Radiation Burns
Steps to assist casualty
• Cool burnt area with cool running water for
minimum of 20 minutes, if the pain returns
repeat cooling
• Move casualty to shaded area
• Give the casualty frequent small drinks of clear
fluid
• Call ambulance if there is a large area affected by
radiation burn or there is extensive blistering or if
the eyes are affected

17. Chemical Burns
• These types of burns can be caused by various
chemical substances. You will need to ensure
your own safety before starting first aid
treatment on the casualty. If possible isolate the
chemical from the casualty and prevent any
further chemicals from spreading on the casualty
or others.
• If available follow the safety information for the
specific chemical which is located on the Safety
Data Sheet (SDS).

18. Chemical Burns
Signs and Symptoms
• History of scene –
Chemical containers,
spilt chemicals, fumes
• Pain, swelling or
blisters of affected
area
• Difficulty breathing
• Clothing is stuck to the
skin

19. Chemical Burns
Steps to assist casualty
• Do not approach unless safe to do so
• Avoid contact with chemicals or contaminated clothing
• Use Personal Protective Equipment
• Irrigate the affected area with cold running water for a
minimum of 20-30 minutes
• Follow first aid instructions on Safety Data Sheet or
container
• Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for
further advice
• Call Ambulance

20. Specific Chemical Burns
• Phosphorus burns
• Phosphorus is a chemical which a can be
found in flares, fireworks, weapons and
explosives. When phosphorus is exposed to air
it can ignite spontaneously and burn fiercely.

21. Specific Chemical Burns
Steps to assist casualty - Phosphorus burns
• Cover phosphorus burns with saline soaked
dressings to exclude air and prevent
phosphorus from re igniting
• If saline is unavailable, keep area immersed in
water
• Call Ambulance

22. Specific Chemical Burns
• Hydrofluoric acid burns
• Hydrofluoric acid is a corrosive and very
dangerous. It can cause deep and extremely
painful burns. Regardless of the size of the
burn, hydrofluoric acid burns can be life
threatening and require urgent medical
treatment.

23. Specific Chemical Burns
Steps to assist casualty - Hydrofluoric acid burns
• Immediately flush burnt area with large amount
of running water
• Cover burnt area with calcium gluconate gel as
quickly as possible (calcium gluconate gel should
always be available wherever hydrofluoric acid is
used or stored)
• Call ambulance

24. Specific Chemical Burns
• Bitumen burns
• Bitumen burns can be very serious as the
bitumen seals in heat and makes cooling the
affected area more difficult. Do not remove
the bitumen from the casualty’s skin and this
can cause further damage.

25. Specific Chemical Burns
Steps to assist casualty - Bitumen burns
• Cool burnt area with cold running water for a
minimum of 30 minutes
• Call ambulance
• Consider cutting or cracking the bitumen to
release heat (if it completely covering a limb
or digit)

26. Specific Chemical Burns
• Liquid petroleum burns
• Liquid petroleum (not flame) may cause a
chemical burn. Prolonged contact may cause
organ failure and death.

27. Specific Chemical Burns
Steps to assist casualty - Liquid petroleum burns
• Flush burnt area with large amount of running
water
• Call ambulance

28. Electrical burns
• Electrical burns can cause flash burns and often
cause extensive damage to deeper tissues, as
electrical currents always take the shortest route
to earth, which is usually through the body. This
can cause ‘entry’ and an ‘exit’ burns.
• Before managing a casualty who has suffered an
electrical shock, make sure you turn of the power
source first. If you cannot safely turn off the
power, do not attempt to treat the casualty.
• Any casualty who has suffered an electrical burn
must seek medical aid

29. Electrical burns
Signs and Symptoms
• History of scene – fallen power line, electrical appliances or
power leads
• Collapse
• Muscle spasms
• Burnt of smoking clothing
• Burnt, blistered or charred skin around any entry or exit
wound
• Difficulty breathing
• Internal injuries
• Fractures
• Loss of consciousness
• Cardiac arrest

30. Electrical burns
Steps to assist casualty
• Call ambulance
• Follow Basic Life Support steps-DRABCD
• Isolate power source before touching casualty
• If you cannot safely isolate power source call
emergency services
• Remain a least 10 metres away from any incidents
involving high voltage power
• After power source is isolated extinguish any burning
clothing
• After power source is isolated cool burnt area with
running water
• Give oxygen is available

31. Assessment Task
• Please proceed to the next slideshow on
Trauma then complete the Assessment Task