Burns are quite possibly the most painful emergency medical trauma that you may have to face. In emergency medicine we classify burns into three types:
1st Degree Burn: First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin. They cause pain, redness, and swelling. Painful but not life threatening. A sunburn is an example of a first degree burn. Treatment of a 1st degree burn calls for cooling the area with cold water (not cold enough to cause damage) until the pain subsides to a point where the burn victim can tolerate it. Be prepared, it could take longer than 10 minutes before the burning feelings of the 1st degree burn subside. If the burn area is under clothing, such as a shirt or pants, do not remove the clothing - instead the burnt area with cool water. It is false that butter, oil, lotions, or creams should not be applied to burns; in fact, they actually can cause deeper burning by trapping the heat & will thereby worsen the burn.After cooling the burn DO NOT cover the burn with adhesive dressing or bandages, instead let the 1st degree burn breath.
2nd Degree Burn: Second-degree burns affect both the outer and underlying layer of skin. Second degree burns cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering. 2nd degree burns can be treated in the same manner as first degree burns however; contact an emergency medical doctor immediately to seek medical help.
3rd Degree Burn: Third-degree burns are deep tissues. They cause white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb. Third degree burns destroy nerve endings in the skin thus causing the burn itself not to be painful however; the area surrounding the 3rd degree burn may extremely painful.
Immediately seek emergency medical help. Call 911 and or get the 3rd degree burn victim to an emergency room. Remember, do not remove any clothing or items from the burn area as this will cause greater damage.
Third degree burns destroy or damage skin, fat, muscle & or bone & will cause the burn victim to go into shock. Shock happens when loss of fluids causes the blood pressure to become so low that not enough blood reaches the brain and other major organs. The symptoms of shock include fainting, general weakness, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse and breathing, a blue tinge to the lips and finger nails, and pale, cold, moist skin.