Elderly Care in Simpsonville SC

Burns are a common form of injury that can occur in many different situations. Your parent may accidentally touch a hot pan or burner, hot oil could splash on them, there could be small fire, or your parent could touch a piece of metal that has gotten hot from the sun when enjoying an outdoor summer activity. However the burn occurs, it is important to treat it as quickly as possible to minimize the negative effects. Burns can lead to serious problems including infections and scarring if not handled properly. Fortunately with your care or the help of an elderly care provider, your parent can manage a minor burn and prevent dangerous complications.

Use these tips to perform appropriate first aid for your parent’s minor burns:

• Evaluate the burn. The first thing that you should do is make sure that the burn truly is minor. First and second degree burns result in skin that is red and tender to the touch. Second degree burns may also cause swelling. They are both painful immediately. Third degree burns leave the skin looking charred or white and cause little or even no pain when they occur because of the extent of the nerve damage to the skin. First and second degree burns can generally be treated right at home, but a third degree burn is a medical emergency and you must get your parent to the hospital as quickly as possible to receive proper treatment.
• Cool the area. As soon as the burn occurs it is vital to cool the area. Just removing it from the hot surface does not stop the skin from burning. You must remove the heat from the skin so that the burn does not go deeper in the layers of skin and cause more damage. For a very minor burn, running the area under cool water for 5 minutes is generally sufficient cooling. A second degree burn may need 15 minutes of cooling.
• Treat the burn. Once the burn is cool, treat it much the way that you would a scratch or scrape. Wash the area gently, pat it dry, and apply an antibacterial gel to keep the area moist and protected from bacteria. Cover the burn lightly with sterile dressings. Every day cover the burn with cool wet clothes to draw out more heat and soothe any pain or itching, and then wash the burn and replace the dressing. The burn should heal within a few days. If it does not, visit the doctor to determine if there is a more serious situation at work.
• Discourage itching. Skin tends to itch when it is healing from a burn. This can cause your parent to scratch at it, possibly causing damage and making them vulnerable to infection. Keeping the burn moist and properly protected is important to getting your parent through this stage of healing. You should also keep their fingernails cut short and filed smooth, and encourage them to use antibacterial gel frequently to reduce the chances of infection if they do scratch.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elderly care services near Simpsonville, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Source:  http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/first-aid-burns.html

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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