We’ve all done it.

Bumped the over door when you are taking out the pan of freshly baked cookies. Grabbed the curling iron that you thought wasn’t on. Splashed some boiling water on your hand when you were draining your pasta.

I’m talking about unexpected burns. No matter how careful we are, these things happen.

Just a few days ago, we decided to use the fireplace for the first time this season. The fire had been going for a few hours and I was adjusting the log with that long poker tool and the top of my forearm brushed against the fireplace screen.

YOW!!!!! OH THAT’S HOT!!!!

Immediately, I went to the sink and ran the top of my forearm under some cool water. Yeah, that hurt, definitely going to leave a mark.

So I’m guessing you’ve been there before too. Out of nowhere, you find yourself with some type of minor burn. My question to you is do you know what you’re supposed to do?

This is one of those topics that it pays to have a little bit of an understanding on so that you know what to do after you experience a burn and you know when to seek medical attention.

Okay, very simply. There are 3 degrees of severity when it comes to burns of the skin layers (there are actually 4th degree burns as well, which extend beyond the skin into the muscle and bone).

1st degree – are considered mild compared to other burns. They result in pain and reddening of the outer layer of the skin (epidermis).

2nd degree – (partial thickness burns) affect the epidermis and the dermis (lower layer of skin). They cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.

3rd degree – (full thickness burns) go through the dermis and affect deeper tissues. They result in white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb.

It should be noted that the burns that I am talking about are a direct result from exposure to high temperatures. These are known as thermal burns.

There are many types of other burns, including cold, wet, friction, radiation, electrical, chemical, sun and more. Each of these types of burns have different treatment methods and interventions, so please seek medical attention if you have any concerns.

But back to the good old you touched something that was way too hot burn…

First things first, cool it down. Get it under some cool running water. Keep it there for 5 to 15 minutes. This helps prevent any further damage from the burn and helps to cool the site.

If it’s just a 1st degree burn, chances are you could just put some over the counter antibiotic ointment on the burn site and take some acetaminophen to take the edge off and/or some ibuprofen to help with the inflammation. You could also put some lidocaine or aloe on the site to help soothe it.

If it’s 2nd degree burn, you probably want to see a doctor. You may need a prescription for an antibiotic cream because once the outer layer of the skin has been broken, you are are risk for infection. It is important to keep the site clean and bandaged properly.

If it’s a 3rd degree burn, you need to seek medical attention right away. These can actually be painless because nerve endings are usually damaged with 3rd degree burns.

A general rule of thumb to follow is 1st degree treat at home, 2nd degree go see your doctor, 3rd degree seek medical attention immediately. Of course, if you have any concerns, even if the burn only appears to be a 1st degree burn, it’s always better to seek medical attention if you aren’t sure.

Cheers.