Burns are injuries caused by high temperatures (flames, steam, boiling water) or caustic chemicals.
Burns can be caused by thermal, chemical and physical agents.
Depending on the temperature of the damaging agent (in case of thermal burns), its volume, time and area of contact with the body part, the injuries can be of varying severity. First-degree burns are characterised only by redness and burning of the affected area. In second-degree burns, blisters appear on the injured area, and in third-degree burns, wounds open. Fourth-degree burns are characterised by large areas of damage that affect deep layers of tissue. Such injuries often lead to the victim's death.
The following degrees of burns are recognised: I – there is redness and pain at the burn site. II – blisters appear at the site of the burn. III – all layers of the skin are necrotic. IV – not only the skin but also tissues are affected: tendons, muscles, bones.
In case of burns, it is extremely important to provide adequate first aid in time. The further condition of the victim will depend on how quickly and correctly you help yourself or the victim.
How to provide first aid in case of burns
Eliminate the source of the burn.
First of all, you need to eliminate the source of the burn, and the sooner you do this, the better. If the victim's clothing is on fire, remove it as soon as possible, or put a blanket, raincoat or any other cloth over the person to block oxygen from reaching the flames. If you do not have a suitable material, you can pour water over the victim.
After eliminating the source of the burn, it is necessary to free the damaged areas from clothing and hot particles. However, do not tear off any clothing or objects stuck to the body. Remove only those items that you can without effort.
Cooling the affected areas.
If the victim has a first or second degree burn, the injured area should be placed under a stream of cold water for 15-20 minutes. It is not recommended to use ice, as you can only aggravate the situation. Cooling will prevent the burn from spreading to the deeper layers of the affected area.
In the case of 3rd or 4th degree burns, a cloth soaked in water should be used as a cooling agent, which should be applied to the affected area.
Closure of the burn surface.
Once cooled, the burn surface should be covered to limit its contact with the environment. This will reduce the likelihood of infection, especially if a wound has opened on the injured area.
To cover the damaged area, you can use a bandage or gauze dressing (either dry or treated with an antiseptic solution). Such dressings should not irritate the wound and increase pain.
Pain relief.
If you have painkillers, you can give them to the victim. In this case, you can use both tablet and injectable forms of painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ketalgin, diclofenac, nimesulide, dexalgin, paracetamol, and others, are suitable for this purpose.
Transporting a patient.
The victim should be taken to the nearest inpatient surgical or trauma unit as soon as possible. The medical institution will take all necessary measures to prevent the development of an infectious process and to heal the affected area as soon as possible.
What not to do.
The most common mistake in case of burns is to apply oil, cream, ointment, egg white and other similar products to the damaged area. This is strictly forbidden, as such products form a film on the skin surface, which will only worsen heat transfer, which means that the burn will spread deep into the tissues.
In addition, you should not tear off the clothes stuck to the wound or pierce the blisters that have formed. Do not apply antiburn foam to the newly burned area.
In case of significant burns, the body temperature rises, the patient feels cold, nauseous, has a headache, and dizziness. Burns that cover a third of the skin surface often result in death. First aid consists primarily of extinguishing the victim's clothing (pouring water over the victim, or if there is none, putting a blanket, jacket or coat over the victim to cut off oxygen. Then free the burned part of the body from the clothing. If necessary, cut the clothes, do not tear off the parts of the clothes that are stuck to the body, but cut them around and leave them in place. Blisters should not be cut or burst.
In the case of severe burns, after removing the victim's clothing, it is best to wrap the victim in a clean sheet, take measures against shock and send him or her to a medical facility. In case of burns of certain parts of the body, the skin around the burn should be wiped with alcohol, cologne, water, and a dry sterile bandage should be applied to the burn site. It is not necessary to lubricate the burn surface with grease or any cream.
In case of minor first-degree burns, apply a gauze cloth moistened with alcohol to the reddened skin. Initially, the burning and soreness will increase slightly, but soon the pain will subside and the redness will decrease. In case of second- and even more so third- and fourth-degree burns, the victim should be immediately transported to a medical facility after first aid.
