TREATMENT OF BURNS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31187, 11 October 1966, Page 16

TREATMENT OF BURNS

-Surgeon’s View It was common sense, when someone suffered severe burns, to cool the burned area as soon as possible, said a Christchurch plastic surgeon yesterday. This could be done by throwing cold water on the burned area. The surgeon had been asked to comment on a letter to the editor of “The Press” from Mrs R. A. Barnes, of Spotswood, who said that first-aid treatment being widely used by the public . was causing needless damage and pain. New treatment called for! rapid cooling of the burnt area by tearing off burning clothing, or throwing cold water over it, Mrs Barnes said. The old treatment of smothering the flames and leaving the clothing on made the burns deeper than they need have been, she said. The plastic surgeon said it was desirable to cool the burned area as soon as possible. Naturally, if clothing was burning, the flames had to be extinguished quickly, and this could be done by smothering them. But the quicker the heat was reduced the better, and the shorter the period involved with heat applied, the more superficial burns would be. The heat level could be lowered effectively by throwing cold water over the burned area.

The surgeon said that beyond this, there was nothing that could be done for a severe case of burns beyond getting the patient to a hospital as quickly as possible. Resuscitation and treatment could then begin.