The NHS have issued a warning to people cooking pancakes this Shrove Tuesday, as its website sees high numbers of traffic relating to advice on burns and scalds.
According to the National Health Service, their burns and scalds page is viewed once every 16 seconds, with visits to the NHS website’s advice almost doubling on Pancake Day according to the latest figures.
The service also say that page views for burn injury assistance soar from an average of 3,200 to 5,300 daily when the annual celebrations come around - based on figures from the two previous years - a rise of 66%.
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The official NHS burns and scalds page advises on burn and scald prevention as well as treatment and symptoms - including 'blisters, red or peeling skin, swelling, or even white or charred skin'.
Here's what the page says with regards to first aid on burns:
1. Get the person away from the heat source immediately.
2. Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burnt skin.
3. Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes, not iced water or any creams or greases like butter.
4. Keep the person warm with blankets, and don't touch the burnt area.
5. Once the burn is cool, cover it with cling film or a clean plastic bag.
6. Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain.
7. Raise the affected area to reduce any swelling.
8. Dial 999 for acid or chemical burns, remove contaminated clothing and rinse the burn with as much clean water as possible.
The site also gives crucial advice on when to seek medical attention.
NHS England’s content director for the NHS website, Robert Cleary, said: “The NHS website is available every day of the year for anyone who needs it and is often the first port of call for anyone seeking health advice. This is evident in the annual spike we see in visits to our burns page on Pancake Day each year, as people seek advice for cooking-related injuries.
“The site provides information and advice in easy-to-understand language on a wide range of conditions, making it accessible for all and easy for people to receive health advice and support from a trustworthy source.”
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