The FIRST AID for BURNS and SCALDS: How TO DO? What IS? STEPS

Burns and scalds are divided according to their causes into the following classes:

• Irradiation burns: In these cases, what generally causes this type of burn is ultraviolet rays, which can be from sunlight, from lamps that produce ultraviolet rays, from electric welding, among others. There are also other radiations, such as X-rays, atomic bombs and even nuclear reactors, which can cause serious burns.

• Hot liquids: an extremely frequent cause of burns, such as boiling water, hot oil, etc.

• Flames: explosions, fires, burning clothes, etc.

• Hot solids: such as stoves, embers, cooking, ironing.

• Hot gases: these types of gases can be tolerated quite well if they are dry, but they cause serious injuries when there is humidity. For this reason, burns caused by boiler explosions. Caustic substances: caustic soda and potash, strong acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric), certain salts (silver nitrate, zinc chloride, etc.) can cause serious burns.

Boiling water, one of the most common causes of burns in the home.

First-degree burns cause diffuse redness of the skin, burning and pain. Swelling or swelling of the burned area is also observed. After a few hours, the pain disappears.

The redness disappears in two or three days, giving way to a tanned color, while at the same time the peeling of the most superficial layer of the skin (epidermis), which is the one that has suffered the action of heat or ultraviolet rays, occurs.

Sometimes this peeling is accompanied by itching. A very common form of first-degree burn is that produced by prolonged exposure to sunlight. When the first-degree burn covers an extensive area of ​​the skin, there may be a slight increase in temperature and heart rate, and gastric discomfort.

Second-degree burns are characterized by the presence of blisters. These appear immediately, or more often later, after a variable number of hours.

These blisters are filled with a clear liquid, sometimes of a slightly gelatinous consistency. There is sharp pain, especially in the first few hours, but the pain does not usually disappear until the fourth or fifth day, when the redness and swelling of the skin surrounding the blisters diminish.

This type of burn is very commonly caused by boiling water. If the blisters are opened, a red surface is seen that is very sensitive to the slightest touch. It is formed by the so-called papillary body of the dermis, and it is the one that secretes the liquid that fills the blisters. When infection appears, the liquid in the blisters becomes cloudy.

The characteristic of third-degree burns is the production of scars (areas of dead tissue), which if they are not very deep, form gray, yellowish or brown spots, thin and insensitive to superficial pressure.

When the death of the tissues is deeper, the plaques are blackish and dry, and do not hurt even when pressure is more intense. The scars are surrounded by areas with second and first degree burns.

The pain is less intense than in second-degree burns. After a variable number of days, the plaques fall off, leaving granulation tissue exposed. The period of elimination of the scars is extremely long and often accompanied by suppuration and pain.

The scars of third-degree burns are red, star-shaped, with a tendency to retract. When they settle in a skin fold, they tend to fuse both parts, preventing or hindering movement.

In general, the basic first aid for a burn and the first 3 steps for treating burns and scalds is as follows:

• Step 01: Prevent shock.

• Step 02: Prevent plasma loss at the burn level and also the reabsorption of toxins on the burned surface.

• Step 03: Prevent infection and relevant deformations.

First aid for first-degree burns and first aid hot water on skin is as follows:

• Place the burned part in cold water, which relieves the pain.

• If it is a part of the body that cannot be immersed in water, apply compresses soaked in ice water.

• When the pain has ceased, carry out the local treatment recommended by the family doctor.

• Cover with sterile gauze or a piece of freshly ironed or clean cloth, after applying the medicine that has been obtained.

• In cases where none of the medicines can be obtained, a paste prepared with boiled water and sodium bicarbonate can be applied.

• As for blisters, it is generally preferable to leave them, in these cases, if they are not broken and do not bother much.

• If they are broken or bother much, the skin covering them will be removed using a small pair of scissors and small tweezers that have been boiled for at least 10 to 20 minutes. Wash your hands and nails thoroughly with soap and water before treating the burn.

• If the burnt area on your hands is very painful, lifting them will provide relief. It also helps prevent swelling of the burned area.

• It is wise to have the family doctor's preferred medicine for minor burns on hand in your first aid kit, as it soothes the pain and is also a disinfectant.

These burns, which do not cover 12.5% ​​of the skin surface, and which are, however, relatively extensive, are best treated by a doctor, who should be called immediately.

Here are the first aid measures for second-degree burns:

• If the burn is covered by clothing, it should be removed very carefully, to avoid causing pain and tearing blisters or blisters. It is often preferable to cut the clothing along the seams. If there are parts of clothing stuck to the skin, remove them by wetting them with warm boiled water.

• Anything that compresses (rings, bracelets, etc.) should be removed before the areas where they are located swell.

• Apply a sterile gauze soaked in boiled water containing 2 teaspoons of fine salt or sodium bicarbonate per liter to the burn. In the meantime, make sure that the burned person does not get cold. Keep the burned parts elevated.

Third-degree burns and burns covering more than 12.5% ​​of the body's surface. First aid for third-degree burns should be directed more to the burn victim than to the burn victim.

The greatest danger is death by shock, so all efforts should be directed to preventing or treating this.

• Immediately call a doctor or an ambulance, informing them that the person has very extensive burns.

• Keep the burn victim lying down, with the head lower than the body and the burned limbs elevated. Prevent the burn victim from cooling down by covering them with enough blankets.

• Be careful not to contaminate the burn victim by bringing unclean material into contact with them.

• Taking precautions to prevent the burn victim from cooling down, remove the clothing surrounding the burned areas (cut it at the seams). The burn victim can be wrapped in a clean, freshly ironed sheet.

• The usual measures will be taken to prevent infection of the burn victim.

• It is important that the burn victim enters a medical center as soon as possible where there is specialized personnel and where they can, if possible, receive treatment.

WHAT IS THE WAY TO PUT OUT A PERSON'S BURNING CLOTHES

The worst thing a person whose clothes are on fire can do is exactly what people usually do: run away. This fuels the flames. The best way to put out a person's burning clothes is to put out the flames by laying the person on the ground and wrapping him or her in a blanket, rug, jacket, or anything else, but not a plastic one that could be flammable.

Cover the neck area first, so that the flames and smoke don't reach your face. If your clothes catch fire:

• If the fire is on an item of clothing that can be easily removed, take it off.

• If you're using a small surface, put it out with your hands or a rag.

• If you're near a shower, get under it. Or, wrap yourself in a blanket, coat, or other piece of clothing and lie on the ground.

• Start applying it near the neck so that the flames don't reach your face. The face can also be momentarily protected by crossing the arms in front of it.

WHAT IS FIRST AID FOR BURNS CAUSED BY VARIOUS SUBSTANCES?

Immediately apply plenty of water while you obtain a neutralizer, which can be baking soda in the case of an acid burn, and diluted vinegar or lemon juice in the case of a soda or caustic potash burn.

Treat the burn as you would any other burn. In the case of a quicklime burn, an exception to the general principle of washing with plenty of water should be made. Before washing, remove as much lime as possible.

Keep the burned area wet, either by immersing it in water or with wet compresses. Try to remove as much phosphorus as possible with gauze placed in a dressing.

Then apply a solution of sodium bicarbonate and then a solution of 1% copper sulphate. If there are any dark particles left, remove them. These burns will be treated later like any other.