>>2707552That's a completely different issue to whether treating burns is enough of a reason to bring saline when you go /out/.
For community first-aiders, cling-film is generally the best option. It is non-adherent to the wound, provides a barrier against the environment and tends to be essentially sterile (if you're using a roll from your kitchen then discard the first couple of cm). Just lay cling film over the wound - don't wrap it (burns swell).
If you don't have cling-film handy (like, say, if you're on a hike) then any reasonably clean plastic bag or the plastic packaging from your gauze, bandages or other medical supplies (all of which should be sterile on the inside) would be another option. Maybe a cut off section from a mylar emergency blanket.
There's a fair amount of evidence showing that honey can be beneficial, at least for superficial or partial thickness burns. I don't recommend it routinely but I'd probably use it on myself if I was out in the backcountry.
>Wetting the wound or even directly the gauze helps.If at all possible you'll avoid using gauze but otherwise, yeah, wet gauze is easier to remove than dry (rewet it before removal).
If you really want to carry a burn-specific dressing on your hike then a hydrogel dressing (e.g. Burnshield) is probably the best option. They're non-adherent and can provide some cooling effect if you are unable to irrigate the wound (less effective than just holding it under a tap but whatever).
Silver-impregnated dressings (e.g. Acticoat) are what we recommend to rural physicians where transfer to a tertiary hospital is likely to be delayed. It is non-adherent, can be left in place for 48h+ and reduces risk of infection. Fairly pricey and they need to be kept moist to do their job (although any burn serious enough to require Acticoat is probably putting out a fair bit of exudate on its own).
Paraffin-impregnated gauze (e.g. Jelonet) is decent and cheap.
Silver sulfadiazine cream is shit. Don't use it.
