FIRST AID FOR BURNS – LAY KNOWLEDGE
Abstract
A burn is damage to the skin or other tissues caused by heat, contact with electricity, chemicals, radiation, radioactivity or friction. First aid guidelines for burns emphasize cooling with clean running water for at least 20 minutes. Appropriate first aid has an impact on both reducing the depth of the burn and the healing time. The aim of the study was to investigate lay people‘s knowledge of first aid measures for burns. The data was collected using an online questionnaire. The sample of 318 respondents was divided into three groups according to their age: 18-29, 30-59 and 60 years and over. Of the respondents, 72% had treated a burn wound on themselves or others. Lay people of all ages knew that the best way to treat a burn is with water, while hydrogel for burns is still relatively unknown, although 30% of respondents had used it in the past. They would usually cool the burn for 5-10 minutes (29%) or until the pain stopped (27%). Burns that are particularly dangerous were only partially recognized. The results show that knowledge of first aid for burns decreases with increasing age of lay people. Lay people, especially the older generation, should be motivated to refresh and update their knowledge of first aid.
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