First aid for – Burns & Scalds
A burn is an injury caused by
- Dry Heat – fire / a piece of hot metal
- Electric Burn – High tension wire
- Friction – Contact with revolving wheel / object.
- Corrosive Burn –
Acids – Hydrochloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid
Alkaline– Strong Ammonia
Scald- is an injury caused by moist heat, such as boiling water, steam, hot oil/tar.
Effects of burn /scalds
- Reddening of skin – blister formation and destruction of the skin.
- Pain is very severe
- Burns leads to shock when burn is severe – septic infection.
Treatment
- Handle the casualty after washing your hands
- Avoid handling the affected area more than necessary
- Do not use lotion of any kind
- Do not remove / lift burnt clothing and do not break blisters
- Cover the area with neat & clean cloth
- Bandage firmly / if blister is present bandage lightly
- Immobile the affected area.
Degrees of burns
- I Degree – burn causes epidermal (surface layer of skin) injury with redness of the skin
- II Degree – burn causes partial destruction of dermise (inner layer of skin below epidermise) with damage to the epidermis giving rise to blister formation.
- III Degree – burn causes complete epidermal and dermal (inner layer of skin below epidermise) destruction and may extend even deeper.
Management of major burns
- Remove the patient to hospital as quickly as possible
- Nothing by mouth be given, as patient may require anaesthesia
- Any burns more than 30% needs hospitlisation.
Management- burns caused by corrosive chemicals
Acids
- Thoroughly flood the affected part with water
- Bathe the part freely with an alkaline solution (2 tsp of baking soda or washing soda in 1 pint of warm water.)
- Remove the contaminated cloth as quickly as possible
Alkaline
- Thoroughly flood the affected part with water
- Bathe the part freely with a weak acid solution
- Lime Juice
- Vinegar with equal amount of water
- Remove the contaminated cloth as quickly as possible
- Do not rub the affected eye/nor the other eye.
Helping a person whose clothes have caught fire
- Put out the flame either by using drinking water or any readily available water to douse the flame. Water cools the area & lessens the damage.
Or
- Wrap tightly with any piece of cloth, rug or coat.
Or
- Role on the floor and put of the fire.
- Do not allow the person to run about – more oxygen – more burn.
Management of minor burns
- Do not remove the clothing unnecessarily
- Do not open blisters.
- Cleanse the area with clean water
- Submerge/dip the burnt area in cold water
- Apply solution of salt and water
- Cover with dry dressing
- Do not apply any greasy substances
- Give warm drinks.
- Shift the casualty to the Hospital
Read more on World health organisation’s tips on Medical kit and toilet items
To know more about first aid click here
K K Pradeep
Tejus crisis and Trauma Foundation
