A Thermal burn (flame, contact, scalds) is a type of burn resulting from tissue exposure to an external heat source, such as boiling water, steam, hot cooking oil, fire, and hot objects.
Scald burns result from exposure of the patient to high-temperature liquids. Scalds are the most common type of thermal burn suffered by children and are commonly caused by accidental spilling of hot liquids, having water temperature too high for baths and showers, steam from boiling water or heated food, or getting splattered by hot cooking oil. Scalding is usually a first- or second-degree burn, and third-degree burn can sometimes result from prolonged contact.
Flash and flame burns occur due to direct or indirect exposure of a patient to a flame source. Grease burns and those due to hot oils are often much deeper than the initial examination suggests. Contact burns occur from direct contact with a high-temperature object.
The most important first action is to stop the burning process. If person is on fire, he/she must be told to stop, drop and roll, or extinguish the fire by covering them with heavy blanket, wool, coat, or rug. Burning clothing should be removed, but burned clothing stuck to the skin must not be removed. Cooling the burn immediately within 30 minutes of the injury with cold running water may limit the extent and severity of the burn. There is little benefit in wound healing if cold running water is applied beyond 3 hours of the initial injury. Ice should not be used for cooling since they can worsen the burn by causing hypothermia and further tissue damage. Burns should be covered with a non-fibrous, nonstick dressing. The blisters should not be tried to break, they will be debrided (cut away dead tissue) at the hospital. The pain or inflammation can then be effectively treated using oral analgesics and topical antibiotic ointment may be applied.
Education is an important tool for children on how to prevent getting burned by fire or getting scalded.
