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About This Quiz
Most of us have suffered a burn at some point or another -- and chances are, it was minor and healed relatively quickly. But do you know if you should run cold water over minor burns? What happens when you have hot tar stuck to your skin? And can you have a burn that's not visible on your skin? See how well you respond to these most burning questions.
There are three burn classifications.
fact
fiction
almost fact: There are four.
There are four types: first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree.
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First- and second-degree burns are considered minor; third- and fourth- degree burns are major.
fact
fiction
Only first-degree burns -- and second-degree burns that are less than 3 inches in diameter -- are considered minor.
almost fact: First- ,second- and third- degree burns are minor.
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You should run cold water over minor burns to relieve the pain.
fact
fiction
Cool water is actually what you're looking for.
almost fact: You should use warm water, not cold.
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Putting an ice pack on a minor burn will help reduce the swelling.
fact
fiction
You should never put ice on a burn -- it can make your body too cold and exacerbate the burn.
almost fact: The ice pack will also decrease healing time.
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You should never break a burn blister.
fact
Popping a burn blister will make you more prone to infection, so resist the temptation.
fiction
almost fact: Go ahead and pop it if it looks infected.
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If you're dealing with major burns, you should take off the victim's clothes.
fact
fiction
You shouldn't removed burned clothing -- you might end up doing more harm than good.
almost fact: Take off only the clothes that look to be in danger of sticking to the burns.
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Immersing severe burns in cold water could cause hypothermia.
fact
Cold water could induce hypothermia and shock.
fiction
almost fact: It could cause hyperthermia.
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Burns make you susceptible to tetanus.
fact
fiction
almost fact: Typically, only major burns could make you vulnerable to tetanus.
People with minor burns shouldn't worry, but you'll probably want to get a tetanus shot or a booster if you've had a major burn.
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You should never use water to treat a chemical burn.
fact
fiction
With any chemical burn, you should first flush out the burn with cool water.
almost fact: Water can be used to treat burns from certain chemicals.
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Some electrical burns don't show up on the skin at all.
fact
Electrical burns often cause internal damage instead of external.
fiction
almost fact: Some chemical burns don't show up on the skin.
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You should never touch an electrical burn victim.
fact
fiction
Before you touch the victim, be absolutely sure that the source of the burn has been turned off or otherwise removed from the scene.
almost fact: Only touch the victim if he or she is still in contact with the electrical source.
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Third-degree burns go through all layers of the skin.
fact
Yes, third-degree burns affect every layer of the skin, to the tissue underneath it.
fiction
almost fact: Third-degree burns affect the top three layers of the skin.
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Fourth-degree burns are basically very large third-degree burns.
fact
fiction
Fourth-degree burns affect more than the skin -- they can injure muscle, nerves and bone.
almost fact: Fourth-degree burns are on the most sensitive areas of the skin, like the face.
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Most burns in young children are friction burns.
fact
fiction
almost fact: They're mostly scald burns.
Most burns in kids ages 5 and under are scald burns from hot liquids.
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Most burns happen at home.
fact
You would think hazardous chemical plants would be a hotbed for burns, but no -- most of us sustain burns at home.
fiction
almost fact: Most burns happen in hazardous chemical plants.
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Men get burned a little more than women do.
fact
fiction
almost fact: Men get burned twice as often as women do.
Yes, men are twice as likely to have burn injuries.
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Most minor burns heal on their own.
fact
Home treatment is fine for minor burns -- no need to call the doctor.
fiction
almost fact: True, but you should still seek medical attention.
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If hot tar or plastic has melted onto your skin, you should pour cooking oil on it.
fact
fiction
almost fact: You should run cold water over it.
The cold water will cool off the tar or plastic, which is the most important first step.
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A 0.5 percent hydrocortisone cream is a basic home burn treatment.
fact
A 0.5 percent hydrocortisone cream is a good addition to your first aid kit for treatment of minor burns.
fiction
almost fact: You should get 2 percent.
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Aloe juice can soothe a minor burn.
fact
It doesn't matter what caused the burn -- when a first-degree or minor second-degree burn is a couple of days old, aloe vera can ease pain and swelling.
fiction
almost fact: Yes, but only if it's a sunburn.
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You Got:
/20
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