What should you avoid when dealing with large burns?

What should you avoid when dealing with large burns?

• A. Apply ice on large burns
• B. Avoid ice on large burns
• C. Keep the burn dry without cooling
• D. Use ice water over the burn for several minutes

Answer: (B)

Cooling a burn should limit ongoing tissue damage without causing new injury. For large burns, avoid applying ice because icy contact can worsen tissue injury and, over a large area, raise the risk of hypothermia. The safer approach is to stop the heat source and gently cool with cool running water for a short period if possible, then cover the area with a clean dry cloth and seek medical care. Don’t keep the burn completely dry without cooling, as heat can continue to damage tissue, and don’t use ice or ice-cold water for several minutes, since that can cause further cold injury.

Cooling a burn should limit ongoing tissue damage without causing new injury. For large burns, avoid applying ice because icy contact can worsen tissue injury and, over a large area, raise the risk of hypothermia. The safer approach is to stop the heat source and gently cool with cool running water for a short period if possible, then cover the area with a clean dry cloth and seek medical care. Don’t keep the burn completely dry without cooling, as heat can continue to damage tissue, and don’t use ice or ice-cold water for several minutes, since that can cause further cold injury.