Recently, news of "Grandmother Boiling Rat Oil to Treat Grandson's Burn, Causing Infection That Sent Child Straight to ICU" trended on Weibo. Folk remedies like applying boiled rat oil or stove grime were collectively condemned by netizens. However, methods such as rubbing on soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, or toothpaste remain endorsed by many.Doctors from Beijing's 120 Emergency Center explain that these folk remedies are unreliable and can easily cause secondary skin damage.
Burns and scalds primarily damage the skin. Mild cases result in swelling, blisters, and pain; severe cases involve charred skin and simultaneous damage to blood vessels, nerves, and tendons.The respiratory tract may also be burned. Factors like intense pain and skin exudation from burns can lead to shock, infection, sepsis, and even life-threatening conditions. For minor superficial burns on hands or feet, rinse with cool running water and apply burn ointment. For burns on the face or forehead, use several towels to apply alternating cold compresses.For children with extensive severe burns, position them flat during transport to the hospital—avoid holding them upright. Offer diluted salt water to prevent dehydration. In daily life, we've all heard of—or even tried—various folk remedies for burns, such as applying toothpaste, sesame oil, or ice packs.However, both toothpaste and oils hinder heat dissipation. Moreover, toothpaste and oils are foreign substances to the human body, easily contaminating the wound, worsening scarring, and hindering healing. Below are common misconceptions about treating burns:
Misconception: Applying toothpaste or soy sauce to the wound is beneficial. Applying toothpaste is not only useless but also increases the difficulty of wound recovery.Applying soy sauce intensifies dehydration and tissue damage. Its color obscures the wound, hindering medical assessment of the injury's severity.
Misconception: Applying colored antiseptic solutions after burns. Red mercury solution is a tincture containing 2% mercuric chloride and 98% alcohol or water, used as a disinfectant. It contains heavy metal mercury and has limited antibacterial efficacy.Purple mercury solution forms a crust over the burn, obscuring the wound's condition, and its color similarly hinders accurate assessment of the burn injury.
Misconception: Using ice cubes instead of running water to cool the skin after a burn. Skin tissue exposed after a burn lacks epidermal protection and becomes more fragile. Directly applying ice cubes increases the risk of frostbite.
Next, Beijing 120 emergency physicians outline the correct first aid steps for burns: Rinse—Remove—Soak—Cover—Transport.
Step 1—Rinse: Gently rinse the burned area with clean, running cold water for 10–30 minutes. Cold water rapidly dissipates heat, minimizing damage to deeper tissues.
If pain is severe, extend the rinsing time. If cold water is unavailable, use a harmless cool liquid instead. Tap water generally contains minimal bacteria and is perfectly safe to use without infection concerns. Well water or river water may be used if tap water is unavailable. Do not apply herbs, toothpaste, vinegar, soy sauce, salad oil, or similar substances to the wound, as these may cause bacterial infection and potentially worsen burn depth.
Step Two—Removal After thorough rinsing, carefully remove clothing under cold water. Use scissors to cut away garments; never forcefully peel off any clothing to avoid rupturing blisters. Blister skin provides early protection to the wound, reducing pain and fluid leakage.Since the burned area and surrounding tissues will swell, remove rings, watches, belts, shoes, or tight clothing before swelling occurs. This prevents items from becoming trapped by swelling, which could restrict blood flow and cause further damage.
Step 3 – Soak: For significant pain, continue soaking in cold water for 10 to 30 minutes.The primary purpose here is pain relief. However, flushing the burn in the very early stages is crucial as it can reduce the severity of the injury. For patients with extensive burns, children, and the elderly, be mindful of soaking duration and water temperature to avoid excessive hypothermia.This reduces external contamination and irritation, helps maintain wound cleanliness, and alleviates pain. For facial burns, position the patient in a sitting or semi-reclining posture. Cover the face with a clean, sterile cloth cut to allow openings for the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. Step 5 – Transport: Immediately transport the patient to a hospital for further professional treatment.