Burn Management
What are burns?
Specializing in the field of occupational medicine, Concentra's affiliated physicians provide treatment for a variety of workplace injuries and issues, including burn management.
Burns are injuries to tissue that can be caused by fire, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, electricity, or other means. Burns can be minor medical problems or life-threatening emergencies, and burn management is fundamental to avoid complications from deep, severe, or widespread burns. Burn treatment depends on the severity and size of the burn, and Concentra's systematic approach to burn management focuses on the five "C's."
How to care for a burn injury
Cooling: Burns should be cooled immediately after they occur. Although most tissue has already cooled by the time patients with burns are able to get to a physician, further cooling during the first several hours after injury effectively decreases burn pain. Sterile saline-soaked gauze, moderately cooled, can be applied to the burned tissues. Ice application should be avoided.
Cleaning: Cleaning a burn wound is critical but may be very painful. A local or regional anesthesia may be given before the wound is cleaned. Although disinfectants are often employed to clean burn wounds, their use is discouraged because these agents can slow the healing process. Once a burn wound has been cleaned, it should be thoroughly rinsed.
Chemoprophylaxis: Tetanus immunization should be updated in patients with wounds deeper than a superficial partial-thickness burn.
Covering: Covering and dressing a burn provides a number of benefits, including pain management, infection defense, and drainage absorption to keep the wound dry. Dressings should be changed when they become heavy with moisture or as instructed by a physician. Superficial burns do not require dressings-only a gentle skin cream to soothe the area. If blisters develop, patients should consult a Concentra physician or family doctor for further instruction or treatment.
Comforting: Burns elicit inflammation, which results in mild erythema, edema, pain, and tenderness. Pain relief is the key objective of the "comforting" phase, and may involve analgesics, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or opioids. Due to its effect on platelet production and clotting, aspirin and products containing aspirin should be avoided.
It's important to note that follow-up burn treatment is important for optimal burn management to speed healing, guard against infection, and minimize scarring. Burns in the workplace can be serious, and Concentra's clinicians apply best practices to treat burn injuries and return patients to normal function. Concentra is a convenient, reliable resource for a wide range of burn management needs and employee injuries and illnesses.
