Burn Creams - To Use or Not To Use... That is the Question. Here is the Answer.

Last week “fake ads” supposedly advertising Bayer’s Burn Creams spread like wildfire across the internet. The ads depicting parents roasting their babies over fire, burning them with blowtorches or putting them on a stick like a marshmallow – I’m guessing the message is supposed to be that the first aid burn cream would protect them – has been rejected by the pharaceutical company Bayers as ads that would never have been approved.

Whether the adverts were real or fake, it made me think about the misconception the public may have regarding the use of burn creams. Burn creams should NOT be used as a First Aid treatment. In fact, they will only make the situation worse – think about it, have you ever put cream onto sunburn and felt like it is frying? If you have, you will know exactly how if feels… very PAINFUL. Burn creams are not FIRST aid, but do have their place for healing of burns. They are what I describe as FOURTH LINE Aid… in other words, they should only be used once the casualty has been seen by a doctor, when the worst is over and the burn has been cooled sufficiently. (First aid is First Line Aid, Ambulance is Second Line Aid, A&E is Third Line Aid and the Doctor is Fourth in line!) In cases where the casualty does not need to see a doctor then burn creams can be applied to help the skin recover. I suggest not less than 24 hours after cooling sufficiently.

The most important thing you can do is cool the burn. It’s even more important than gettiing help, because once the burn is being cooled then less damage will occur. Whilst cooling the burn, help can be called.

Advice on What to Put in Your Home/Holiday First Aid Kit

When I'm teaching a First Aid course, participants often ask me about their holiday first aid kit.

The big question is “What am I “allowed” to have in a First Aid kit? Can I have such things as:
Headache tablets, medication to prevent diarrhoea, calamine lotion, burn cream, sting creams, syringe etc?”

The simple answer is, yes, you can put whatever you like in a holiday first aid kit. Think about your family’s needs when you are on holiday - you know them better than anyone else, so you can decide what suits your needs.

A holiday first aid kit may contain items that are for use by you or your family; therefore you may wish to add medications in the kit. After all, you can’t sue yourself if it turns out you are allergic to any medication used! :-)

As I tend to enjoy adventurous, off-the-beaten-track trips, so I've used my personal holiday first aid kit as an example:

Sterile Dressings with a bandage attachment (medium & large)
Gauze x 5
Triangular bandages x 3
Plasters (a variety of sizes)
Safety pins x 6
Eye pads x 2
Non-alcohol based antiseptic wipes x 10
Sterile water x 2 (20ml each)
Micropor tape x 1
Blister plasters x 1 pack
Ice pack x 1

Medications:
Burn relief (a cooling bandage)
Paraffin gauze
Antiseptic cream
Diarrhoea prevention (or cure)
Painkillers
Sterile syringe (great for blisters)
Dental first aid equipment
Lavender oil (a little-known secret for dealing with insect stings)

Whatever you decide to put in your first aid kit for your own use is entirely up to you. For more information on any of these products either visit www.optimum-training.com or contact us on 0800 594 2134.

PLEASE NOTE: You cannot use the guidelines provided above for a workplace First Aid kit. Workplace First Aid must comply with legislative requirements of the country concerned. For more information visit the Frequently Asked Questions on our website.