When treating a 3rd-degree burn, immediate medical attention is crucial as it involves all layers of the skin and can cause permanent tissue damage. The treatment includes:
- Ensuring the airway is clear, oxygen supply is maintained, and intravenous access is established.
- Removing clothes if not stuck to the burn, while protecting the patient and keeping them warm.
- Administering pain relief such as morphine, since 3rd-degree burns involve nerve damage and may not cause pain initially.
- Cleaning the burn using sterile techniques, removing dead tissue carefully.
- Applying topical antibiotics like silver sulfadiazine directly on the wound.
- Covering the burn with non-adherent, sterile dressing and loosely bandaging it (not too tight to avoid constriction).
- Elevating and immobilizing affected limbs.
- Monitoring for complications like infection, ischemia, and shock.
- In severe cases, treatment may require specialized burn centers, skin grafts, nutritional support, respiratory support, and long-term rehabilitation.
Do not treat a 3rd-degree burn only at home as it is a medical emergency. Immediate hospitalization and professional care are critical for survival and optimal recovery.
