Grow Old Gracefully with Ginkgo Professional medication attention vital for burns By Lorne Thibeault - Chief Nursing Officer, Fallbrook Hospital Hospital emergency rooms in the U.S. treat more than a million burn injuries a year. While the majority of these injuries are not life threatening, major burns carry a significant risk of permanent damage or even death. Appropriate intervention by an emergency physician can improve the chances for a good outcome. A first-degree burn is damage limited to the outer layer of skin, resulting in redness, warmth, an occasional blister, and tenderness.
Mild sunburn is an example of a first-degree burn.
Cover the burn with petroleum, antibiotic ointment or a thin layer of baking soda and water. Then, loosely bandage the area, allowing exposure to the air. Oral pain medications may also be given. A first-degree burn that covers a large part of the body should be examined by a doctor. Second-degree burns go through the outer layer of skin, damaging the deeper layers and causing blisters.