Maintain an open airway.
Control hemorrhage, and treat for shock.
Remove constricting jewelry and articles of clothing.

Protect the burn area from contamination by covering it with clean sheets or dry dressings. DONOTremove clothing adhering to a wound.
Splint fractures.
For all serious and extensive burns (over 20 percent BSA), and in the presence of shock, start intravenous therapy with an electrolyte solution (Ringer's lactate) in an unburned area.

Maintain intravenous treatment during transportation.

Relieve mild pain with aspirin. Relieve moderate pain with cool, wet compresses or ice water immersion (for burns of less than 20 percent BSA). Severe pain may be relieved with morphine or demerol injections. Pain resulting from small burns may be relieved with an anesthetic ointment if the skin is not broken.

Aid Station Care
Once the victim has arrived at the aid station, observe the following procedures.

Continue to monitor for airway patency, hemorrhage, and shock.

Continue intravenous therapy that is in place, or start a new one under a medical officer's supervision to control shock and replace fluid loss.

Monitor urine output.
Shave body hair well back from the burned area, and then cleanse the area gently with disinfectant soap and warm water. Remove dirt, grease, and nonviable tissue. Apply a sterile dressing of dry gauze. Place bulky dressings around the burned parts to absorb serous exudate.

All major burn victims should be given a booster dose of tetanus toxoid to guard against infection.

Administration of antibiotics may be directed by a medical officer or an Independent Duty Corpsman.

If evacuation to a definitive care facility will be delayed for 2 to 3 days, start topical antibiotic therapy after the patient stabilizes and following debridement and wound care. Gently spread a 1/16-inch thickness of Sulfamylon or Silvadene over the burn area. Repeat the application after 12 hours, and then after daily debridement. Treat minor skin reactions with antihistamines.

SUNBURN
Sunburn results from prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. First-and second-degree burns similar to thermal burns result. Treatment is essentially the same as that outlined for thermal burns. Unless a major percentage of the body surface is affected, the victim will not require more than first aid attention. Commercially prepared sunburn lotions and ointments may be used. Prevention through education and the proper use of sun screens is the best way to avoid this condition.

ELECTRICAL BURNS
Electrical burns may be far more serious than a preliminary examination may indicate. The entrance and exit wounds may be small, but as electricity penetrates the skin it burns a large area below the surface, as indicated in figure 4-49. ACorpsman can do little for these victims other than monitoring the basic life functions, delivering CPR, treating for shock if necessary, covering the entrance and exit wounds with a dry, sterile dressing, and transporting the victim to a medical treatment facility.

Before treatment is started, ensure that the victim is no longer in contact with a live electrical source. Shut the power off or use a nonconducting rope or stick to move the victim away from the line or the line away from the victim. See figure 3-26.