Why should you avoid applying ointments or ice during the initial burn management?

• A. Because ointments can mask injuries and delay assessment; ice can cause tissue damage
• B. Because ointments promote faster healing and ice speeds healing
• C. Because ointments are expensive and ice isn't sterile
• D. Because ointments attract insects

Answer: (C)

In burn first aid, the priority is to cool the area and assess the injury without introducing substances that could mask what's really happened. Ointments placed on a fresh burn can hide signs of depth and progression, making it harder to judge severity and delaying proper evaluation. They can also trap heat or moisture and introduce contaminants, complicating the wound. Ice, on the other hand, can cause additional tissue injury by constricting blood vessels and producing frostbite-like damage, especially on delicate burned skin. So avoid both ointments and ice in the initial management and use cooling with running water for a short period and cover the burn with a clean cloth if needed. The other reasons listed, like cost, sterility, or insects, aren’t the primary concerns in this early care.