3 Things to Do when You Burn Yourself

Whenever you burn yourself, it is something that typically comes as a surprise and it can be somewhat of a panic situation. This is especially the case whenever you have a burn that is a little bit more than mild, such as when bacon grease splashes onto your hand. It is important for you to make sure that you treat these burns as quickly as possible, but that you treat them in a way that is going to do the most good. The sooner you get the treatment started, the easier it is going to be for your body to heal itself. Here are 3 things that you should do immediately upon burning yourself.

The first, and most important thing to do is to assess the situation and to see what kind of a burn you have. A first degree burn is the most mild, and is typically causes discomfort and perhaps a rending of the area where the burn took place. A second degree burn is going to be more difficult as far as the pain is concerned, and blisters will typically appear. A third degree burn is the most serious, and it can cause charring of the skin. A third degree burn should never be treated at home and you should seek medical attention as quickly as possible. First, or perhaps a very light second-degree burn can be treated effectively at home.

Immediately begin running cold water over the area of the burn. You would want to make sure that you do not use ice water and absolutely do not put butter on the area, regardless of what somebody may tell you. The cool water that is running over your skin is going to help cool some of the burn out of the area and to begin the healing process. Apply a compress of cool water to the area, but only if blisters are not present.

Finally, make sure that you apply some aloe vera, vinegar or baking soda to the area soon after the rinse and has taken place. All three of these have great benefits whenever your skin is damaged because of the burn, not only immediately but also for the long term. If you happen to have aloe vera, you can even make a paste out of aloe vera gel and baking soda. This is excellent for putting on the area of the burn, and it can have profound effects very quickly.