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I had just finished joking with my brother-in-law about how pitiful the tiny flame in his back yard fire pit looked when it happened - my nephew stumbled into the fire and fell, his chest and shoulders crashing into the hot coals with a giant cloudburst of ash and sparks.

His screams pierced our ears as we sprinted across the yard and pulled him from the searing embers. Careful not to touch the skin that was obviously blistered, we yelled like our own skin was on fire, and within seconds, a 9-1-1 responder's questions were being relayed to us in panicked tones from the open door.

We were stumped by the very first question: "How badly is he burned?" Our only response was, "Pretty bad," but the dispatcher was hoping for a description of the burn degree. The sad fact was that we weren't even sure if first degree was worse than third degree or vice versa.

Because of that harrowing experience, I've become quite familiar with the characteristics of each type of burn, though hopeful I'll never need to know them again.

FIRST-DEGREE BURN
A first-degree burn is the type we all get several times over a lifetime - or, if you're like me, a few times a month. First-degree burns are not an emergency. They are typically caused by things such as touching an overheated light bulb or grabbing an extremely hot plate. These burns usually are red and slightly swollen (not blistered), and they turn white when pressure is applied.

To treat such a burn, simply cool the burned area by soaking it in cold water until comfortable and apply an antiseptic cream. Skin is likely to peel off from the burned area after a few days.

SECOND-DEGREE BURN
More severe than a first-degree burn, a second-degree burn usually causes a raised and fairly painful blister. If the burn blister covers an area more than two or so inches in diameter, a visit to the hospital is a good idea - especially if the victim is a young child or is over 60. Also, leave the blister skin intact, as breaking it can cause infection and even more intense pain.

Treat second-degree burns like first-degree - by cooling the blistered area by soaking it for 15 minutes and applying antiseptic cream. They usually heal in two to three weeks.

THIRD-DEGREE BURN
A third-degree burn is an emergency. Skin and other tissue are seriously damaged, usually visibly seared or charred by the heat. Often, third-degree burns are not as painful as second-degree burns due to extensive nerve damage. Call an ambulance. Absolutely DO NOT remove clothing from the wound, soak it in cold water or apply any ointments or cream. Leave it to a trained EMT. Any such action could cause even more problems. It's o.k. to cover any exposed skin with a sterile bandage if desired.

Do not blow off a third-degree burn. It is a traumatic wound that can have severe consequences - even death in worst-case scenarios or large burn areas.

In my nephew's case, it turns out his injuries were simply severe second-degree burns. The paramedics arrived and treated him for his pain, then spent more than 15 minutes explaining to him what would happen with the wounds.

He was relieved and even excited to meet real people in uniform. If anyone learned a lesson from the experience, the dads did - not only on fire safety, but on how to handle a situation once safety is no longer a factor.

Learn more about this author, Todd Christian.
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