In first aid for burns, should you treat physical shock before wounds?

• A. Yes, treat physical shock first
• B. Treat wounds first
• C. Ignore shock
• D. Wait for a doctor

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that life-threatening problems come first. Burns can trigger shock, which is a drop in blood flow to vital organs. If shock isn’t addressed right away, the person can deteriorate quickly, even while you’re working on the visible burn. So the priority is to stabilize circulation and breathing before focusing on the burns themselves.

To do that, keep the person lying flat, and, if there’s no spinal injury or other leg injuries, raise the legs a bit to help blood return to the core. Keep them warm and calm, call for emergency help, and monitor breathing and responsiveness. If the airway is blocked or breathing is not adequate, address that first with any training you have. Once the person’s circulation and breathing are stabilized, you can start treating the burns—cool the burned areas with running water if possible, cover with a clean dressing, and avoid applying creams or ointments or breaking blisters.