How should you react to a burn? What’s the best response? And what should parents be mindful of at Christmas?
Professor Odhran Shelley, Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Burns Surgeon and Clinical Professor of Surgery at Trinity College Dublin, joins me on this week’s episode of the Real Health podcast.
The plastic surgeon gave a warning at the beginning of the interview. He said, “For those with young children if they’re toddling around in the house, they’re a particular risk. They do something called cruising. So, when they’re just starting to walk, they’re holding onto surfaces. They really are a little bit unsteady and unfortunately, if one of the things that they grasp is a pan of boiling water or a kettle, it can have devastating results.”
I asked the burns expert how to respond to a burn. Professor Odhran Shelley says that “Aim to dissipate the heat. Hopefully reduce the amount of injury by putting under cool water for 20 minutes and to do that within the first four hours of injury. So, if you see somebody and they’ve not done it yet, get them to do it. There is one caveat. You must make sure that the person doesn’t get too cold.”
You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.