Salamanders - Be Aware: Be Safe

Salamanders Young Burn Survivors > Be Aware! Be Safe!

It's easy to get burned: Anyone can do it: All it takes is just one careless moment!

Danger is everywhere!

..... even your own home has lots of things that can burn you if you are careless.

One out of every twenty patients treated in hospital accident and emergency departments

has burn injuries that happened at home.

A split-second can change your life forever!

	It takes only a moment to strike a match and set something (maybe yourself!) on fire.
	It takes only half a second for hot water at 70 degrees to cause third-degree burns.

There are several different kinds of burns:-

Dry burns are caused by flames, things like hot irons and cigarettes, or friction.

Scalds are caused by hot water, hot oil, other hot liquids, or steam.

Chemical burns are caused by things like bleach, acids, and paint stripper.

Electrical burns are caused by electrical currents.

Radiation burns are caused by ultraviolet rays, x-rays, and atomic radiation.

What to do if someone is burned:-

1		STOP the burning.
		Flame - Put out the flames by rolling on the ground, or wrapping in a blanket or other thick cloth.
		Scald - Remove any wet clothing.
		Chemical - Remove any clothing with chemical on, taking care not to touch any chemical yourself.
		Electrical - Switch off the electrical supply, or move the person away using a length of dry wood.
2		COOL the burn under cold running water for 20 minutes.
3		REMOVE any tight clothing, rings, or watches.
4		COVER the burn with clingfilm (saran wrap) or a clean, dry cloth.
5		CALL a doctor or ambulance.

NEVER ...
..... remove clothing stuck to a burn
..... burst any blisters or pull away loose skin
..... touch a burn
..... put ice on a burn
..... put creams, lotions, or fat on a burn
..... put anything dirty, sticky, or fluffy on a burn

DANGER! If someone is touching outdoor power lines,
Do not try to move them!
Don't even go near them!
Stay well away and call the emergency services at once.

Everyone should know how to call Emergency Services.
Even children too young to go to school have saved lives by knowing what number to call.
If you don't know how to call your Emergency Services, click here for an international list of Emergency Numbers.
Find out what numbers you need to call for an ambulance, the fire service, or the police, and REMEMBER them!

To find out more about burns, check out our "FACTS and FIGURES" pages.

To find out more about burn safety or fire safety, click on one of these small books:

This family-friendly website is labelled with ICRA and SafeSurf rated.
Unless otherwise specified, the contents of this website are © 2000-2008 Salamanders Young Burn Survivors.
This is a personal website funded and maintained solely by the webmistress, who is not a medical professional. The medical information provided on this site is designed to supplement, not replace, professional medical advice and/or care.