Treating 3rd Degree Burns in a Post Collapse Scenario - No Doctors & No Hospitals.
How do you treat a 3rd degree burn if there are no hospitals or doctors available, like after a major crisis. This is a question that came up a lot yesterday so we’re gonna go over it but Before we start, I’m not a doctor and this is not medical advice.
First, get them away from the source immediately. Fire, electricity, chemicals, whatever caused the burn, remove it. And don’t waste time checking for pain, because sometimes there wont be any.
Second, cool the area around the burn, not directly on the charred tissue. Use clean, cool water for a few minutes. Never use ice. Never soak the burn. You’re just trying to pull heat away from the surrounding tissue so the damage doesn’t spread.
Third, remove clothing around the burn by cutting it off, but don’t pull anything that’s stuck. You only cut the loose parts. Anything melted to the skin stays, or you’ll rip more tissue off.
Fourth, cover it immediately. Air exposure makes everything worse. Use sterile gauze if you have it. If not, use the cleanest, non fluffy cloth you can find. A clean piece of food grade plastic wrap works in emergencies. You’re not wrapping it tight, you’re just covering it to protect it.
Now treat them for shock, because this is what kills burn victims in survival situations. Lay them flat, elevate the legs slightly, keep them warm, and give small sips of clean water if they’re awake. Keep talking to them, keep them calm. Shock is silent and deadly.
Next, pain control. Even though the center of the burn might be numb, the edges are going to hurt a lot. Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Avoid aspirin because it can make bleeding worse.
Now infection. This is the real enemy. A third degree burn is an open doorway for bacteria. Keep the burn covered. Change the dressing once or twice a day. Wash your hands every single time. Don’t peel off tissue. Don’t pop any blisters around the burn. If you have antibiotic ointment, put a thin layer around the edges only, not across the whole burn. And if the person has fever, chills, confusion, red streaks, pus, or the wound smells bad, you need to start oral antibiotics immediately if you have them.
Hydration is the next priority. Burn victims lose fluids through their skin nonstop. Give them clean water regularly. If you have oral rehydration salts, use them. If not, make your own with one liter of water, a pinch of salt, and a spoon of sugar.
Now long term care. Third degree burns can take weeks or even months to heal in a collapse. You need to protect the wound, keep flies away, keep the bandage clean, and keep the person fed with as much protein as you can. Eggs, beans, fish, meat, peanut butter. Their body needs huge calories to rebuild tissue.
Treating 3rd Degree Burns in a Post Collapse Scenario - No Doctors & No Hospitals.
How do you treat a 3rd degree burn if there are no hospitals or doctors available, like after a major crisis. This is a question that came up a lot yesterday so we’re gonna go over it but Before we start, I’m not a doctor and this is not medical advice.
First, get them away from the source immediately. Fire, electricity, chemicals, whatever caused the burn, remove it. And don’t waste time checking for pain, because sometimes there wont be any.
Second, cool the area around the burn, not directly on the charred tissue. Use clean, cool water for a few minutes. Never use ice. Never soak the burn. You’re just trying to pull heat away from the surrounding tissue so the damage doesn’t spread.
Third, remove clothing around the burn by cutting it off, but don’t pull anything that’s stuck. You only cut the loose parts. Anything melted to the skin stays, or you’ll rip more tissue off.
Fourth, cover it immediately. Air exposure makes everything worse. Use sterile gauze if you have it. If not, use the cleanest, non fluffy cloth you can find. A clean piece of food grade plastic wrap works in emergencies. You’re not wrapping it tight, you’re just covering it to protect it.
Now treat them for shock, because this is what kills burn victims in survival situations. Lay them flat, elevate the legs slightly, keep them warm, and give small sips of clean water if they’re awake. Keep talking to them, keep them calm. Shock is silent and deadly.
Next, pain control. Even though the center of the burn might be numb, the edges are going to hurt a lot. Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Avoid aspirin because it can make bleeding worse.
Now infection. This is the real enemy. A third degree burn is an open doorway for bacteria. Keep the burn covered. Change the dressing once or twice a day. Wash your hands every single time. Don’t peel off tissue. Don’t pop any blisters around the burn. If you have antibiotic ointment, put a thin layer around the edges only, not across the whole burn. And if the person has fever, chills, confusion, red streaks, pus, or the wound smells bad, you need to start oral antibiotics immediately if you have them.
Hydration is the next priority. Burn victims lose fluids through their skin nonstop. Give them clean water regularly. If you have oral rehydration salts, use them. If not, make your own with one liter of water, a pinch of salt, and a spoon of sugar.
Now long term care. Third degree burns can take weeks or even months to heal in a collapse. You need to protect the wound, keep flies away, keep the bandage clean, and keep the person fed with as much protein as you can. Eggs, beans, fish, meat, peanut butter. Their body needs huge calories to rebuild tissue.