Fire and Acid Burns: First Aid Facts

A Prajnya 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence Resource

General Guidelines:

1. In case of an acid or fire attack, follow the S.A.F.E Approach for all pre-hospital emergencies:

• Shout/Call for Help
• Assess the Scene for dangers to everyone involved
• Free from Danger
• Evaluate the casualty

2. Stop the burning by removing the source and take off all clothing that is not stuck to the person as well as any jewellery they may be wearing. Put the burnt clothes in a bag so it can be taken to the hospital for examination.
3. Cool the burn wound with clean room-temperature water if the wound area is large and a wet towel if it is a small wound. Do not use ice-cold water. Do not use ice directly.
4. After cleaning and washing the area well, dress the wound with  sterilized gauze or clingfilm but make sure not to wrap too tightly. Continue to provide cold compresses over the clingfilm for small wounds but avoid for larger ones.
5. It is important to prevent hypothermia, so wrap the person in a blanket so they are warm.
6. Seek emergency help at the nearest hospital with a burns ward immediately.

For Fire Burns:

1. Advise the affected person to ‘stop, cover, drop and roll’ and smother the flames with a blanket.
2. Move away from the heat source and remove all non-adherent clothing and jewellery.
3. Apply clean room-temperature water to the burn for 10-20 minutes to cool the wound.
4. Make sure to keep the person warm by wrapping them in a blanket.
5. Apply a sterile gauze bandage loosely to the burn area to keep it cool and clean. Do NOT apply any creams, gels, butter, turmeric paste etc.
6. Seek emergency help at the nearest hospital with a burns ward immediately.

For Acid Burns:

1. Make sure to wear protective gear to prevent injuries to self while administering first aid.
2. Wash the burn immediately with a large amount of fresh water. Constant washing of the area with clean, running water at room-temperature for at least 45 minutes is critical to wash away the acid.
3. Remove all contaminated clothing immediately and carefully brush all powdered agents from the skin. Make sure the chemical does not come into contact with unaffected areas.
4. Use sterilized gauze or clingfilm to make a loose dressing. Do NOT apply any creams, gels, butter, turmeric paste etc.
5. Take bagged clothing to the hospital for examination.
6. Seek emergency help at the nearest hospital with a  burns ward immediately.

SOURCES: British Burn Association; Acid Survivors Trust International; Stop Acid Attacks