In a kitchen in Tilburg someone has burnt their hand on a pan. There are blisters on the skin. You are the first to help. What do you do with the wound?
- You first pierce the blisters and then rinse the wound thoroughly
- You keep the hand in a bowl of ice-cold water for as long as possible
- ✓ You rinse the hand for about ten minutes under lukewarm, gently running water
Correct answer: You rinse the hand for about ten minutes under lukewarm, gently running water
Explanation
False — you do not pierce a burn blister. Leave blisters intact, put nothing on the wound, cool for about ten minutes with lukewarm water and then cover with a sterile dressing
Why learners get this wrong
- Wrong: you do not pierce a burn blister. Leave blisters intact, put nothing on the wound, cool for about ten minutes with lukewarm water and then cover with a sterile dressing
- Wrong: colder and longer cooling is not better. Cool for about ten minutes with lukewarm, gently running water and keep the casualty from getting hypothermic
Topic: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
Read the rule: Core: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
Sections
- Challenge: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
- The model: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
- Core: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
- Why it matters: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
- Active recall: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
- Teach back: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling
- Memory hook: Bleeding, burns, fractures and damage handling