First aid for – Burns & Scalds

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