Burns

In the event of a superficial burn, you should:

• Eliminate the cause of burning or remove the victim from the cause of burning
• Cool the area as quickly as possible under running water (10 to 25°C) for five minutes. Do not apply pressure
• Remove clothing unless it is sticking to the skin
• Protect the burn with a sterile dressing
• Do not burst any blisters
• Ask the victim if they have been vaccinated against tetanus
• Always seek medical advice in the case of children and babies, by contacting the Princess Grace Hospital Emergency Department on 97.98.97.69

In the case of a serious burn, you must:

• Eliminate the cause or remove the victim from the cause
• Cool the area as quickly as possible under running water (10 to 25°C) for five minutes. Do not apply pressure
• Remove clothing unless it is sticking to the skin
• Lie the victim down
• Alert the fire and emergency service by telephoning 18 or 112
• Monitor the victim

If the chemical has got onto skin or clothes, you should:

• Remove the affected clothing, taking care to protect yourself
• Douse the affected area with water (10 to 25°C) as soon as possible, for as long as necessary
• Alert the fire and emergency service by telephoning 18 or 112

If the chemical has got into the eye, you should:

• Rinse the eye thoroughly with water
• Ensure that the rinsing water does not run into the other eye
• Alert the fire and emergency service by telephoning 18 or 112
• Monitor the victim

If an internal burn has been caused through ingestion of a chemical:

• Do not make the victim vomit
• Do not give them anything to drink
• Keep the packaging from the chemical product
• Alert the fire and emergency service by telephoning 18 or 112
• Monitor the victim

In the case of an electrical burn, you must:

• Treat as a serious burn
• Lie the victim down and reassure them
• Alert the fire service by telephoning 18 or 112
• Monitor the victim

Hot water:

• Tap or bath water which is too hot due to incorrect regulation of the hot water temperature
• A child turning on the hot water tap while in the bath, or falling in a tub of hot water left on the floor
• A child washing their hands

Hot liquids:

• Full saucepans toppling off the hob
• Boiling soup, milk, coffee, tea, hot chocolate
• Boiling oil
• Baby bottles reheated in the microwave
• Opening a pressure cooker (or operating the valve) while still pressurised

Hot objects :

• Crêpe pan, hot plate or fondue maker
• Cooker, oven and hob

Inflammable products:

• Aerosols, combustible materials

Chemical products:

• Household cleaners
• Descaling agents
• Disinfectants

Electricity

To prevent household burns you must:

• Install thermostatic mixing valves for taps, shower and bath (temperature between 38 and 45°C)
• Check the temperature of milk when taking baby bottles out of a bottle warmer or microwave (the ideal temperature for a bottle or a jar of baby food is 37°C)
• Put pressure cookers out of reach when open (or while the pressure is being released) or pressurised (on the plates at the back of the hob)
• Install a solid metal or stout plastic hob safety guard: this prevents children from reaching the flame or the hob, and prevents saucepans or frying pans from toppling over
• Install a cooker guard
• Install a safety guard on your oven to prevent children from accidentally touching hot oven doors
• Keep inflammable products out of the reach of children; put them in a high place or in a cupboard with a door safety catch
• Install a fire guard to prevent children from getting too close to fires. This also prevents flying embers from starting a fire
• Keep chemical products out of the reach of children; put them in a high place or in a cupboard fitted with a door safety catch
• Keep products in their original packaging; close packaging properly to prevent any emission of toxic compounds.

Département de l'économie et de la santé Suisse
Dr Pascal Cassan - Doctissimo