ARTICLES / General /
7 Essential Do’s and Don’ts... /
Other ArticlesBy Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
It’s also risky to leave a loved one with a
history of heart attacks and/or strokes alone.
It is not uncommon for a loved one to have a
medical emergency in the shower and, while
losing consciousness, accidentally turn the
water hotter and end up with severe,
debilitating burns.
Another possible risk for scalding is the
potential for hot water “spikes” that occur when
someone nearby flushes a toilet, starts the washing
machine or runs water from a different tap.
With all these risks, it’s hard to manage all the
possibilities. A caregiver can take a look at
their loved one’s health and lifestyle, and then
determine which is the best action for them.
Next steps
If a loved one is scalded, the first thing to do
is reduce the skin temperature and pain level, and
prevent wound infection. Here are some tips on steps
for a caregiver to take:
Keep calm.
Immerse or rinse the wound with cold water
for at least 10 minutes to reduce temperature
and pain.
Do not apply ice pack directly to the wound
to avoid further tissue damage.
Remove objects such as watches, wristbands,
rings, tight clothing, belts, boots or shoes as
the wound may become swollen.
Do not remove clothes stuck to the wound
because they may tear the skin and increase the
risk of infection.
Do not pierce the blisters to prevent wound
infection.
Do not apply herbal oil, toothpaste, lotion,
soap or cooking oil to the wound to avoid
irritation and further tissue damage.
Cover the wound with sterile lint-free
dressing or clear cling film for protection.
Do not put adhesive materials such as a
cotton wool swab or adhesive bandage directly on
the wound.
Aspirin or acetaminophen may help reduce the
pain. A burn that is painful for longer than 48
hours needs to be seen by a physician. If a severe
burn is unmanageable by a caregiver, it also needs
prompt attention and may necessitate
hospitalization. The Mayo Clinic says that large
portions of hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks
require immediate care.
