Patient
Hi, thank you for taking my call. I'm looking for some advice regarding an injury I've sustained. Can you help me, please?
Triage Assistant
Sure, where does it hurt?
Patient
It's my hand that's injured.
Triage Assistant
When did the injury happen?
Patient
It happened earlier today, just a few hours ago.
Triage Assistant
Have you applied cold water to the burn?
Patient
No, I haven't done that yet.
Triage Assistant
Please run cool water over the burn for 20 minutes immediately, or apply a cold, wet washcloth if cool running water is not available. This helps to prevent the burn from getting worse and reduces the pain. Where is the burn located on your hand?
Patient
The burn is mainly on the palm of my hand.
Triage Assistant
How large is the burn? You can use the size of your palm to estimate; the palm represents roughly 1% of the total body surface area.
Patient
The burn area is a bit smaller than my palm, but it's significant enough to be concerning.
Triage Assistant
Are there any blisters on the burn?
Patient
Yes, there's a blister that's formed on the burn.
Triage Assistant
How large is the blister? If you can, please estimate the size in inches or centimeters.
Patient
The blister is about the size of a nickel, so roughly 2 centimeters in diameter.
Triage Assistant
On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain? Here, we define pain levels as: - MILD (1-3): doesn't interfere with normal activities - MODERATE (4-7): interferes with normal activities or awakens from sleep - SEVERE (8-10): excruciating pain, unable to do any normal activities
Patient
I would say the pain is around a 6. It definitely interferes with my activities but isn’t completely unbearable.
Triage Assistant
It's important to keep the burn clean and try to reduce the pain. Here’s what you need to do: 1. **First Aid:** - Continue cooling the burn with cool running water for 20 minutes. - Avoid using ice directly on the burn. 2. **Pain Management:** - You can take over-the-counter pain relief like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to help manage the pain. 3. **Blister Care:** - Do not pop the blister. The skin over the blister protects the underlying tissue. 4. **Cleaning and Dressing:** - Wash the area gently with warm water once a day. Avoid soap unless absolutely necessary. - You can apply a mild antibiotic ointment (like Bacitracin) directly on the blister and cover it with a clean bandage. Given that the burn is on your hand and there is a blister larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm), you should seek immediate medical attention to avoid complications. Please go to the emergency department or urgent care now for proper assessment and treatment. Thank you for calling, goodbye.
Call EMS 911 Now
See More Appropriate Protocol
Go to ED Now
Go to ED/UCC Now (or to Office With PCP Approval)
Go to Office Now
See in Office Today
See in Office Today or Tomorrow
See in Office Within 3 Days
Home Care
Triage result should be Go to Office Now.
First aid advice was given.
Some assessment questions asked.