Burns are some of the most severe injuries people can sustain. They can occur in the home or at the workplace. It is important to have a burn kit available in multiple locations in the home at place of business. These should be a separate kit from the traditional first-aid kits. They should have treatment elements specific to burn injuries. It is important to keep them fully stocked so that in the event of an emergency, the kit has the appropriate Burn kit supplies. When fully stocked, they should be able to treat mild to severe burns.

The 5 Essential Elements to Any Burn Kit

Because burns can occur anywhere from chemistry classrooms, to home kitchens, to construction sites, it is important to keep the kit stocked. 

Burns can be caused by the following:

  • Chemicals
  • Electricity
  • Radiation
  • Heat
  • Explosion

Because burns are unlike any other injury, due to the fact burns destroy skin, which is the body’s natural barrier against outside infection, St. John Ambulance recommends having burn sterile supplies too.

These burn first-aid supplies should be found in any burn kit: 

  • 1 Mylar Survival Blanket, 213 cm x 132 cm
  • 4 Triangular Bandage/Sling, Cotton, c/w Pins, 102 cm x 102 cm x 142 cm
  • 1 Sterile Abdominal/Combine Pad, 20 cm x 25 cm
  • 12 Assorted Safety Pins
  • 1 Cloth Tape, 2.5 cm x 4.5 m
  • 1 Economy Forceps, 9 cm
  • 1 Black Handle Universal Scissors, 15 cm
  • 2 Fabric Patch Bandage, Large, 5 cm x 7.5 cm
  • 6 Plastic Strip Bandage, Large, 7.5 cm x 2.5 cm
  • 6 Plastic Strip Bandage, 7.5 cm x 2 cm
  • 2 Fabric Knuckle Bandage, 7.5 cm x 3.75 cm
  • 2 Fabric Fingertip Bandage, 5 cm x 4.5 cm
  • 2 Gauze Pads, 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm
  • 2 Gauze Pads, 5 cm x 5 cm
  • 2 Gauze Pads, 10 cm x 10 cm
  • 1 Compress Bandage, 10 cm x 10 cm
  • 1 Gauze Roll, 5 cm x 4.5 m
  • 1 Gauze Roll, 7.5 cm x 4.5 m
  • 1 Pencil
  • 1 Note Pad
  • 1 CPR Faceshield with 1 Way Valve
  • 1 St. John Ambulance Bilingual Pocket Guide
  • 20 BZK Antiseptic Towelettes
  • 2 Pair of Disposable Gloves
  • 2 Non-Adherent Pads, 5 cm x 7.5 cm

Burn Treatment

It is important burn first-aid treatment start by removing the heat source. If something is melted on the skin, do not remove it, you may tear off part of the healthy skin, instead, cool the area quickly, then apply the burn treatment. It needs to be a water-soluble solution, packaged for individual use. Any sterile or single use items need to be discarded after opening the package even if some contents remain unused. .

Hand Sanitizer

Infection is one of the greatest fears of any burn treatment. That is why those treating burns need to use a lot of hand sanitizer solution. This also needs to be water-soluble with a minimum rating of ethyl alcohol of a 70% solution.

Medical Examination Gloves

Once the hand sanitizer is applied to the hands, those treating the burn injury need to put on medical grade nitrile gloves. These need to be worn the entire time the wound is being treated. The rescuer should also wash their hands using hot water and soap and the gloves discarded once the treatment has been completed.

Burn Dressing

These are single-use, sterile pads which are soaked in special gel. The cooling gel cools the injured area and reduces the risk of further tissue damage. You can purchase pre-soaked dressings or gel in a tube and apply to sterile dressings before treatment. 

Cold Packs

Burn kit supplies should also include cold packs which are activated by pressure and come in various sizes. They should be wrapped in dressing, saturated in water before applying to the injured tissue. 

If you are in need of burn care first-aid kits or burn kit supplies, look no further than Sands Canada. Reach out to Sands Canada today.