Most of us must have experienced burns. Burns whether minor or major require prompt action. However, it is best to determine the degree of burns before one decides on the steps to help a person with burns.

First degree burns or minor burns are caused by splash of  hot oil or liquid or just by touching a hot object. The first step here would be to help the person with burns to put his/her part of the body that is burnt under cold running tap water. Second degree burns are mush deeper and involve two layers of the skin and could easily form blisters and swelling in the skin. There could also be a lot of pain.

The person suffering from both these degrees of burns should be advised to immerse the burn portion in a vessel of cold water or use cold packs. The next step is to apply Aloe Vera gel or a homeopathy ointment like cantharis. Next the burn should be loosely covered with a sterile gauze bandage. The bandage helps to reduce pain and protect the skin from forming blisters.

Third degree burns are the most serious form of burns and could be caused by clothes or hair catching fire and the immediate step is to rush the person suffering from these burns to the hospital. They could be life threatening also.  These burns could cause damage to the fat and bones and also lead to breathing difficulties. The first step to be taken is to protect the person from smoke and poisoning from carbon mono oxide.

Never try to take steps to remove the burnt clothing thinking you are helping the person who has suffered burns. Immersing of the burnt portion of the body in water does not help the person with third degree burns. If the person with third degree burns has already not been taken to the hospital and has difficulty in breathing arrange to give him/her cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The next step should be to cover the burns with clean, moist sterile bandages or moist cloth.

Any person following the steps discussed above can help heal a person with burns.