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Burns Dressings

Burn dressings can halt burn progression and provide relief and support to burn injuries as well as helping to keep the burn protected from further damage or injury. Most burn dressings allow for fast heat dissipation and may also include cooling and soothing properties to reduce discomfort.

First Aid For Burns and Scalds In The Workplace

Burns and scalds are among the most common workplace injuries, affecting employees across various industries.

Whether caused by contact with hot surfaces, boiling liquids, steam, or chemical agents, these injuries can range from minor discomfort to serious medical emergencies.

Nearly all premises have heat hazards. High-risk environments include kitchens, manufacturing facilities, engineering workshops, and labs, but burns can occur in any workplace where there is heat present. Having adequate first aid measures on hand can significantly reduce the impact of these incidents.

Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to provide first aid supplies tailored to workplace hazards. This includes ensuring easy access to burns-specific products, such as cooling gels, dressings, or providing burns kits, so injuries can be treated quickly and effectively.

ProtectUK also state that all public premises should have appropriate first aid for treating the types of injuries that could arise because of a malicious attack, such as a burns and trauma first aid provisions.

Burn Treatments

If possible and practical, immediately rinse a burn under cold water for up to 20 minutes. Keep yourself warm whilst doing this. This helps to cool and clean the injury before further ongoing burn treatment.

Burn dressings not only address the immediate symptoms of a burn but also ensures the injury is managed effectively to promote long-term recovery. Using the right dressing at the right time can optimise recovery, minimise discomfort, and protect against complications.

Primary Phase Treatment

Immediately after the burn and for the first few hours

The goals of treatment in this phase are to:

Ease pain
Manage exudate (fluid from the wound)
Prevent infection
Protect the wound

Gel-based burn dressings are ideal for this treatment phase. They cool and soothe burns to provide immediate relief, whilst creating a moist environment that kickstarts the healing process and reduces the risk of infection. Low-adherent properties minimise sticking to the wound, reducing pain during dressing changes.

Secondary Phase Treatment

After the initial stabilisation, lasting days to weeks

During this phase, the focus shifts to:

Promoting healing and wound closure
Preventing or managing infection
Managing discomfort

Paraffin gauze or Jelonet Dressings help to keep the wound moist for longer periods. They are low-adherent to prevent sticking to the wound bed, and can be used as primary dressings with a secondary absorbent pad on top to manage exudate.

Burns Dressing Types & Sizes

Burn dressings are available in a variety of sizes to cater to different wound areas. Common sizes include:

5cm x 5cm: Suitable for small burns (e.g. fingers, small surface areas)
10cm x 10cm: Great for medium-sized burns (e.g. hands, forearms)
20cm x 20cm: Designed for larger burns (e.g. upper arms, thighs)
Large Areas/Contour Dressings: Can be wrapped around and provide treatment of burns to large areas of the body, measuring up to 2m x 1m
Specialty shapes: Some dressings are pre-cut or shaped for specific areas, such as the face, neck, hands, or wrapping around digits and limbs

Selecting the Right Size

For smaller burns, choose dressings that fully cover the wound with a margin to ensure adequate protection
For larger burns, consider using multiple dressings or larger sizes for comprehensive coverage

Having a range of types and sizes ensures you’re prepared to treat burns effectively, regardless of the severity or location of the injury. It is strongly advised to stock your workplace first aid kit with a variety of options, or provide a specialist burns kit.

Choosing Between Burn Dressing Types

To provide the right types of burn dressing, you should consider the type of burn injury which could occur.

Factor

Why It Matters

Tips

The Amount of Exudate

Exudate impacts dressing effectiveness and wound healing

For heavy exudate: Use absorbent dressings, such as foam dressings
For drying wounds: Use hydrogel dressings to provide moisture

The State of the Tissue

Protecting healthy tissue and managing damaged/dead tissue promotes healing

For superficial burns: Use low-adherent dressings for coverage and protection
For severe burns or broken blisters: Choose debridement-supportive dressings

The Depth of the Burn

The severity of tissue damage determines dressing type

For superficial burns: Standard hydrogel or paraffin-based dressings
For deeper burns: Use antimicrobial or silver dressings; refer severe cases to a specialist

Contamination and Infection

Infection delays healing and causes complications

For contaminated or infected wounds: Use silver or antimicrobial dressings to control bacteria and reduce infection risks

Location and Size

Dressings must fully cover the wound and stay securely in place

For large burns: Overlap dressings and secure with tape
For high-mobility areas: Use non-bulky adhesive dressings (e.g. hydrogel, hydrocolloid)
For torso burns: Secure with additional adhesive strips or tape to prevent slippage

Ease of Application and Removal

Burn care is time-critical; dressings should be quick to apply and easy to remove

Use dressings that conform to the wound and adhere without pain
Non-adherent or non-adhesive dressings reduce pain during removal, especially for infants

Patient Circumstances

Tailoring the dressing to the patient’s situation ensures effective care

For limited care access: Use dressings that last several days without frequent changes
For high infection risk: Opt for silver or antimicrobial dressings

Burns First Aid Kits

A well-stocked burns first aid kit is essential for effectively managing burn injuries in the workplace. These kits are specifically designed to provide quick, efficient treatment for various types, sizes and severities of burns, helping to minimise damage, reduce pain, and prevent infection. By having clearly labelled burns kits in addition to regular first aid kits, you can ensure correct treatment can be found for the types of injuries sustained.

Burns first aid kits are an elegant solution to demonstrating measures taken to provide first aid cover for hazards which could cause burn injuries.

Benefits of Having a Burns First Aid Kit

Quick Access to Supplies: Ensures the right tools are available immediately during an emergency.
Comprehensive Coverage: Designed to treat burns of various severities and locations.
Compliance with Regulations: Helps meet workplace health and safety standards (such as the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines).
Minimised Damage: Rapid treatment can limit the severity of burns and speed up recovery.

Where Should Burns First Aid Kits Be Located?

High-Risk Areas: Kitchens, manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and workshops.
Accessible Locations: Ensure kits are easily visible and reachable for all staff.
Marked Stations: Clearly label first aid stations with appropriate signage for burns-specific supplies.
Public Spaces: In accordance with official counter-terror preparedness first aid guidance from ProtectUK

Burn injuries are time critical, so it is important Burns First Aid Kits are located as close as practicable to where burn injuries could occur, to enable immediate treatment.

Customising Your Kit

Burns first aid kits can be tailored to suit the specific hazards of your workplace. For example:

Chemical Environments: Include neutralising agents or chemical burn treatments.
High-Risk Heat Exposure: Stock additional cooling gels or large burn dressings.

Ensuring your workplace has a burns first aid kit tailored to your environment is a small investment that can make a big difference in managing injuries effectively.

Shop Burns First Aid Kits