Burns - First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide

 What are burns?

  • Injuries due to heat/ chemicals/ electricity/ radiation
  • Common heat injuries due to fire, hot liquids, steam
  • Burns due to heat/chemicals - through skin contact 
  • Severe burns affect muscles, fat, and bones
  • Older people/ children - particularly vulnerable


Categories of burns
  • First, second and third degree 
  • Categorization depends on the severity of tissue damage 
  • Check extent of burn before deciding self-treatment
  • Seek help if a burn is over a couple of inches in diameter, or
  • If it involves large sections of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint
 
First-degree burns
  • Injuries are superficial/mild
  • Swelling& redness of the injured area 
  • Pain develops
  • No blisters are seen
  • The burned area becomes white on touch
  • Takes 3-6 days to heal
 
Treatment
  • Remove the patient from the heat source
  • Remove the burnt clothing
  • Run cool water over a burnt area
  • Gently clean the injured area
  • Gently dry 
  • Apply antibiotic such as Silver Sulphadiazine
  • Use a sterile bandage to cover burns
  • Take tetanus vaccination, if required

 Second-degree burns
  • Burns extends to middle skin layer, dermis 
  • Swelling, redness, and pain observed
  • A burnt area may turn white on touch
  • Blisters develop, that ooze a clear fluid 
  • Scars may develop
  • Restricts movement, if an injury occurs at joint
  • Dehydration may occur
  • Healing time varies, depends on the extent of an injury
 
Treatment
  • Clean the affected area thoroughly
  • Gently dry
  • Apply antibiotic cream over the affected area
  • Make the patient lie down
  • Keep burnt body part at a raised level
  • A skin graft may be required
  • Physical therapy may be essential to aid mobility 
  • Splints may be used to rest affected joints 
  • Hospitalization is essential

 Third-degree burns 
  • Damage occurs to all 3 skin layers
  • Destroys adjacent hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings 
  • Lack of pain due to destroyed nerves
  • The injured area does not turn white on touch
  • No blisters observed
  • Swelling occurs
  • The skin develops a leathery texture 
  • Discoloration of skin observed
  • Scars develop 
  • Crusty surfaces (Eschars) develop-impairs circulation 
  • Dehydration occurs resulting in shock 
  • Symptoms may worsen with time 
  • Disfigurement may result 
  • Healing depends on the extent of the injury 
  • 90% body surface injury results in death 
  • 60% injury in elderly, fatal 
 Treatment 
  • Requires immediate hospital care 
  • Dehydration treated through the intravenous fluid supply 
  • Oxygen is administered 
  • Eschars are surgically opened 
  • Periodically run clean cool water over burns 
  • A nutritious diet helps to heal quickly 
  • Regular monitoring essential 
  • Mental Depression treated by anti-depressants 
 Prevention
  • Install a smoke alarm in your home
  • Employ 'children friendly' safety measures at home
  • Avoid synthetic clothing while cooking 
  • Carry out fire drills at home and workplace


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Thin and Bald Hair Magical Growth of Your Hair Fast With Only 2 Ingredients

2 DROPS OF THIS IN YOUR EARS AND 97% OF YOUR HEARING RECOVERS! EVEN OLD PEOPLE FROM 80 TO 90 ARE DRIVEN CRAZY BY THIS SIMPLE AND NATURAL REMEDY

26 Home Remedies For Fire Ant Bites

This is the best natural remedy against sore throat and tonsillitis! It will help you in only 4 hours!

The One-Week Diet Plan To Lose 15 Pounds Naturally At Home