General Tips Cuts, Grazes, Burns, Scalds & Blisters

For minor cuts and wounds

• Stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound thoroughly and covering it with a plaster or dressing is usually all that’s needed.
• Minor wounds should start to heal within a few days.
• If one has a blister be careful not to burst it.

To do this one must first:

• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly – wear disposable gloves if possible.
• Clean the wound under drinking-quality running tap water and/or use saline water (salt water) for five to ten minutes and/or use non-alcohol free wipe and gently dab or wipe the skin with it
• Do not apply antiseptic creams, alcohol, iodine and/or hydrogen peroxide yet as it can irritate and damage the area and delay skin healing.
• Pat the area dry with a clean towel or apply a pressure to the cut with a clean (ideally sterile dressing) non -fluffy pad.
• When the wound has stopped bleeding, clean it and cover it with a dressing to help stop it becoming infected.
• Apply a sterile adhesive dressing, such as a plaster and wrap a dressing round it and make sure its secure.
• If blood soaks through the dressing, add another and apply pressure, if still bleeding heavily, phone for an ambulance.
• One can now apply alcohol , iodine and/or antiseptic creams to prevent a skin infection.
• Hydrogen peroxide is not recommended in cuts and grazes or if being used as a mouthwash (mouth ulcers) as it delays the healing process .
• Keep the dressing clean by changing it as often as necessary. .
• One can remove the dressing after a few days, once the wound has closed itself.
• Use waterproof dressings to keep the wound dry while bathing and showering
• If on arm and leg- raise this body part above the heart level.

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Minor Burns and scalds

• Stop the burning process as soon as possible.
• This may mean removing the person from the area, dousing flames with water, or smothering flames with a blanket.
• Do not put yourself at risk of getting burnt as well.
• Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burnt area of skin, including babies’ nappies.
• Do not try to remove anything that’s stuck to the burnt skin, as this could cause more damage.
• Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible after the injury.
• Never use ice, iced water (it can cause frost bite and slow the healing process), or any creams yet or greasy substances like toothpaste, oils, butter and eggs.
• Never apply cotton balls to a burn because the small fibres can stick to the injury and increase the risk of infection.
• Compress the area with a non –fluffy pad and or cool cloth (not fluffy) and/or cold compress not from freezer (do not use freeze spray) , make sure it’s not too cold as it can irritate the skin, one can apply the compress from 5-15 minutes intervals, if the burn is small and in a local area.
• Keep yourself or the person warm.
• Use a blanket or layers of clothing, but avoid putting them on the injured area.
• Keeping warm will prevent hypothermia, where a person’s body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F). This is a risk if you’re cooling a large burnt area, particularly in young children and elderly people.
• Cover the burn with cling film. Put the cling film in a layer over the burn, rather than wrapping it around a limb. A clean clear plastic bag can be used for burns on your hand or consider to use a burn plaster.
• Sit upright as much as possible if the face or eyes are burnt. Avoid lying down for as long as possible, as this will help reduce swelling

• Do not use rubbing alcohol/surgical spirit as it can cause chemical burns.

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Electrical burns

• Electrical burns should be managed only after the patient is separated from the source of electricity. If possible, isolate the source of electricity (e.g. turn off the mains power).
• Attempt a rescue if the source of electricity is of low domestic voltage (e.g. 110–240 volts), using a non-conductible object (e.g. a wooden stick or wooden chair) to separate them from the current.
• Do not attempt to rescue someone who is connected to 1,000 volts or more (e.g. electrical train lines) because the risk of conduction is very high.
• Electrical burns are usually deep and an ambulance should be called immediately.

Chemical Burns

• Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for an hour as soon as possible after the injury.
• Never use ice, iced water (it can cause frost bite and slow the healing process), or any creams yet or greasy substances like toothpaste, oils, butter and eggs.
• Identify the chemical that has caused the burn; different types of chemical will produce different burns.
• Chemical burns are usually deep and an ambulance should be called immediately.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Burns and scalds. May 2013. 

The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, 9/16 May 2015, Vol 294, No 7861/2;294(7861/2):DOI:10.1211/PJ.2015.20068363

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Preventive measures:

Kitchen and/or bathroom

• Keep children out of the kitchen while cooking and/or keep hot appliance and foods and/or drinks out of children’s reach.
• Never leave items cooking on the stove unattended.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Never cook while wearing loose fitting clothes that could catch fire over the stove.
• Don’t carry or hold a child while cooking at the stove.
• If a small child is present, block his or her access to heat sources such as stoves, outdoor grills, fireplaces and space heaters.
• Keep hot liquids out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check the temperature of food before serving it to a child. Don’t heat a baby’s bottle in the microwave.
• Place a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
• Keep electrical appliances away from water.
• Set your water heater’s thermostat to below 120 F (48.9 C) to prevent scalding. Test bath water before placing a child in it.

All rooms

• Keep chemicals, lighters and matches out of the reach of children. Use safety latches. And don’t use lighters that look like toys.
• Ensure all smoking products are stubbed out completely.
• If one smokes, never smoke in bed.
• Clean out dryer lint traps regularly.
• Check and discard electrical cords with exposed wires.
• Cover unused electrical outlets with safety caps. Keep electrical cords and wires out of the way so that children can’t chew on them.
• Install electrical outlet covers.
• Test smoke detectors once a month.
• Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.
• Be sure you have working smoke detectors on each floor of your home. Check them and change their batteries at least once a year.
• Keep a fire extinguisher on every floor of your house.
• Keep water heater temperature under 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Unplug irons and similar devices when not in use. Store them out of reach of small children.
• Keep chemicals out of reach, and wear protective eyewear and clothing and gloves during chemical use.

Outside and/or in car 

• Wear sunscreen every day, and avoid peak sunlight.
• Before placing a child in a car seat, check for hot straps or buckles.
• Be alert to burn risks outside the home, especially if you are in places with open flames, chemicals or superheated materials.
• Blister and burns should be not exposed to the sun, apply a high sun factor 50+ to all areas (scarring prevention).
• Once the skin has healed apply an intense moisturiser two or three times daily (scarring prevention)

Tetanus vaccination:

• Makes sure one has a tetanus booster shot every 10 years.

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Natural treatments and tips (DR Axe)