• Injuries due to heat/ chemicals/ electricity/ radiation
• Common heat injuries due to fire, hot liquids, steam
• Burns due to heat / chemicals - through skin contact 
• Severe burns affect muscles, fat and bones
• Older people/ children - particularly vulnerable

Categories of burns

• First, second and third degree 
• Categorization depends on severity of tissue damage 
• Check extent of burn before deciding self treatment
• Seek help if burn is over a couple of inches in diameter, or
• If it involves large sections of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint

• Injuries are superficial / mild
• Swelling& redness of the injured area 
• Pain develops
• No blisters seen
• Burned area becomes white on touch
• Takes 3-6 days to heal

• Remove patient from heat source
• Remove the burnt clothing
• Run cool water over burnt area




• Gently clean the injured area
• Gently dry 
• Apply anti biotic such as Silver Sulphadiazine
• Use a sterile bandage to cover burns
• Take tetanus vaccination, if required

• Burns extends to middle skin layer, dermis 
• Swelling, redness and pain observed




• Burnt area may turn white on touch
• Blisters develop, that ooze a clear fluid 
• Scars may develop




• Restricts movement, if injury occurs at joint
• Dehydration may occur
• Healing time varies, depends on extent of injury

• Clean the affected area thoroughly
• Gently dry
• Apply antibiotic cream over affected area




• Make the patient lie down
• Keep burnt body part at a raised level
• Skin graft may be required
• Physical therapy may be essential to aid mobility 
• Splints may be used to rest affected joints 
• Hospitalization is essential

• Damage occurs to all 3 skin layers
• Destroys adjacent hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings 
• Lack of pain due to destroyed nerves




• Injured area does not turn white on touch
• No blisters observed
• Swelling occurs
• Skin develops leathery texture 
• Discoloration of skin observed
• Scars develop 
• Crusty surfaces (Eschars) develop-impairs circulation 
• Dehydration occurs resulting in shock 




• Symptoms may worsen with time 
• Disfigurement may result 
• Healing depends on extent of injury 
• 90% body surface injury results in death 
• 60% injury in elderly, fatal 

• Requires immediate hospital care 
• Dehydration treated through intravenous fluid supply 
• Oxygen is administered 
• Eschars are surgically opened 
• Periodically run clean cool water over burns 
• Nutritious diet helps to heal quickly 




• Regular monitoring essential 
• Mental Depression treated by anti-depressants 

• Install smoke alarm in your home
• Employ 'children friendly' safety measures at home
• Avoid synthetic clothing while cooking 




• Carry out fire drills at home and work place