What is the recommended treatment for a white phosphorus burn?

What is the recommended treatment for a white phosphorus burn?

• A. Expose to air to burn off
• B. Smother burning phosphorus with water, wet cloth, or wet mud; keep phosphorus covered
• C. Remove phosphorus with bare hands
• D. Apply ice to the area

Answer: (B)

White phosphorus burns must be extinguished by removing access to air and cooling the burning material. White phosphorus can ignite spontaneously in air and will continue to burn as long as it is exposed to oxygen. The best treatment is to smother the burn with water, or cover it with a wet cloth or wet mud, and keep the area covered until all phosphorus is cooled and any fragments are no longer exposed. This deprives the burning phosphorus of oxygen and prevents re-ignition, while also cooling the tissue. Why the other ideas don’t fit: exposing the burn to air would feed the fire and keep it burning; trying to remove phosphorus with bare hands risks spreading burning particles and causing more injury; applying ice doesn’t stop the burning and can worsen tissue damage. Keeping the area wet and covered addresses the need to smother the flame and prevent further exposure.

White phosphorus burns must be extinguished by removing access to air and cooling the burning material. White phosphorus can ignite spontaneously in air and will continue to burn as long as it is exposed to oxygen. The best treatment is to smother the burn with water, or cover it with a wet cloth or wet mud, and keep the area covered until all phosphorus is cooled and any fragments are no longer exposed. This deprives the burning phosphorus of oxygen and prevents re-ignition, while also cooling the tissue.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: exposing the burn to air would feed the fire and keep it burning; trying to remove phosphorus with bare hands risks spreading burning particles and causing more injury; applying ice doesn’t stop the burning and can worsen tissue damage. Keeping the area wet and covered addresses the need to smother the flame and prevent further exposure.