Burns

Emergencies

Yes	Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Breathing stops. After calling 911 or other emergency services, see the topic Dealing With Emergencies.
• Signs of decreased level of consciousness develop, such as sleepiness (lethargy), confusion, extreme restlessness, or agitation.
• Moderate to severe difficulty breathing from an airway burn or chemical fumes (smoke inhalation) develops:
  • In children.
  • In adults and older children.
• Signs of shock develop:
  • In children.
  • In adults and older children.
• Other serious injuries are present.
• Burns extend through the skin to injure muscle and bones (fourth-degree burn).
• Third-degree burns are present over more than 2% of the body.
• Second-degree burns are present over:
  • More than 10% of the body of a person younger than age 10 or older than age 50.
  • More than 15% of the body of a person between ages 10 to 50.

Note:

If a chemical has been swallowed that may be a poison or may cause burning in the throat and esophagus, call your local Poison Control Center or the National Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) immediately for information on treatment. When you call the Poison Control Center, have the chemical container with you, so you can read the content label to the Poison Control staff member. The Poison Control Center can help determine what steps to take next.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

• Chemical has been swallowed that may be a poison or causes burning in the mouth, throat, or the esophagus: call your local Poison Control Center or the National Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) immediately for information on treatment. When you call the Poison Control Center, have the chemical container with you, so you can read the contents label to the Poison Control person. The Poison Control Center can help determine what steps to take next. You may find additional information in the Poisoning topic.
• Chemical burn to the eyes: Go to the topic Burns to the Eye.
• A friction burn: Go to the topic Scrapes.

Yes	Do you have breathing problems or throat problems after breathing in smoke (smoke inhalation)?
Yes	Have you had an electrical shock or been struck by lightning?
Yes	Do you have a chemical burn?
Yes	Does your child have a burn?
Yes	Do you have a second- or third- degree burn?
Yes	Do you have a burn that goes completely around (encircles) your arm or leg?
Yes	Do you think a burn may have been caused by abuse?
Yes	Do you have continuing pain from a burn?
Yes	Do you think you have an infection?
Yes	Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following injuries that occurred with the burn?

• Head injury: Go to the topic Head Injury, Age 4 and Older or Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger.
• Cuts: Go to the topic Cuts.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

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Author:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA	Last Updated: February 2, 2007
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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