Fire-Related Injuries
About Burns
How Burns are Treated
Burns are usually treated with cleansing, the use of topical ointments
to prevent bacterial growth in the damaged tissue and to keep the
tissues moisturized. Silvadene (a white colored, silver-based ointment)
is the most common topical used. If people are neutropenic, silver
nitrate is used instead. Areas with cartilage (ears, nose, etc)
are treated with Sulfa-based ointments.
Rehabilitation therapists see burned people early in their
recovery and continue treatment through the second year of recovery
from the injury (through the scar formation and maturation process).
Early treatment focuses on mobilization (maintaining range of motion
and general physical mobility) as well as adapting the way people
do their daily activities that have been interrupted by the burn.
For example, when your hands are burned, it is difficult to wipe
your bottom or to feed yourself, and to do many other tasks throughout
the day.
Skin grafting 
Information courtesy of Ann Burkhardt,
OTR/L,
a fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association
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