Serious burns

Serious burns

If you’ve suffered a serious burn, don’t hesitate to go to an urgent care center. Without proper care, your skin can start to die and become infected. All it takes is about 10 minutes for first-degree burns to turn into second-degree burns; even with immediate medical treatment, you can still be left with permanent damage.

Burns that cover 10 percent of your body’s surface area or major burns in any one area are considered life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. When serious burns occur, time is of utmost importance; don’t take chances by not seeking medical care. If you’re not sure if you have a serious burn, talk to a medical professional for advice on whether it’s safe to wait for medical care.

If your burn is severe enough to cause blistering, it’s also severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention. Burns that cover a large area, extend past your wrist or ankle, are larger than 3 inches in diameter, cause a large blister, and especially burns with associated injuries should be treated at an urgent care center. Immediate medical attention is critical for children who have been burned; for example, face burns and those on hands and feet can prevent them from eating on their own. Burns that involve electrical injury need to be assessed by a doctor before any self-treatment because they could potentially result in serious heart problems if touched without protection.

It’s always a good idea to take your burn injury to an urgent care center for evaluation. The emergency room might not be necessary in all cases—but if you’re concerned about severe burns, blisters, or intense pain, it never hurts to have another opinion. In some cases, burns can actually cause bacterial infections—which will only get worse if you wait to seek medical attention. Unexpectedly high fever: If you find yourself running a temperature that is higher than expected and have other flu-like symptoms (such as nausea and vomiting), it could be something more serious like pneumonia. When in doubt about serious symptoms, call 911 for medical advice before going to urgent care center or your family doctor.