Safety Sense > Shock & Burn Treatment

Always call your doctor when you get an electrical burn.

If it is determined that the burn is small, you may be able to take care of it at home; but if the burn is large or you received a serious electric shock, you should go to the hospital right away. Most importantly, do not drive yourself.

How to Treat a Burn

• Soak the burned skin in cold water for about 10 minutes.
• Gently wash the burn with warm, soapy water. Pat it dry with a clean towel, and cover it with a clean, dry bandage.
• You will need to clean the burn and put on a new bandage once a day. Be sure that everything that touches the burn is clean. Only use burn medicine prescribed by your doctor.
• If the burn is on your arm or leg, keep it raised or propped up for the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling.
• You may use aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. It's also important to drink plenty of water or juice.
• Do not bump or overuse the burned area.

For mouth burns (often suffered by children):

• Feed the child bland, soft, cold foods such as baby foods, soft cooked eggs, cooked cereal, ice cream and yogurt. Give the child lots of liquids such as water, milk and fruit juices.
• Brush the child's teeth 3 or 4 times a day. Use a soft toothbrush, with or without toothpaste.
• If the child is given a special device called a microstoma to help prevent scarring, use it exactly as directed.

Call Your Doctor If...

• You develop increasing pain and redness around the burn.
• A bad-smelling drainage comes from the burn.
• You develop a high temperature.

These are signs of infection and you may need professional medical attention.

Seek Care Immediately If...

You have swelling, numbness or tingling below a burn on your arm or leg. This is a sign of serious injury. Seek immediate treatment at an emergency room.

The First Aid Information on the following pages was gathered from: PHYSICIANS' DESK REFERENCE, PDR77, The PDR77 Family Guide to Prescription Drugs, The PDR77 Family Guide to Women's Health and Prescription Drugs and The PDR77