title: A review of first aid treatments for burn injuries.
abstract: Throughout history there have been many different and sometimes bizarre treatments prescribed for burns. Unfortunately many of these treatments still persist today, although they often do not have sufficient evidence to support their use. This paper reviews common first aid and pre-hospital treatments for burns (water--cold or warm, ice, oils, powders and natural plant therapies), possible mechanisms whereby they might work and the literature which supports their use. From the published work to date, the current recommendations for the first aid treatment of burn injuries should be to use cold running tap water (between 2 and 15 degrees C) on the burn, not ice or alternative plant therapies.
authors.affiliation: Royal Children's Hospital Burns Research Group, University of Queensland, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston Rd, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia. L.Cuttle@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuttle
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pearn
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kimble
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods; D005392:First Aid / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009821:Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D009821:Oils