First Aid - Burns

Types Of Burns:

• Dry - Caused by Flames, Hot Metal, Friction.
• Scalds - Caused Steam, Hot Water, Hot Fat.
• Electrical - by Domestic Current,
• Lightning, High Voltage.
• Cold - Caused by Freezing Metal, Liquid Oxygen or Nitrogen Frostbite.
• Chemical - Caused by Industrial and Domestic Chemicals.
• Radiation - Caused by Sun Rays, Reflected Light, Sun Lamp, Exposure to acute Source.

Depth Of Burns:

• Superficial - Affects outer layer of skin: Redness, Swell Tenderness.
• Partial knees - Blisters, Redness surrounding the area.
• Full Thickness - Pale, Waxy, may be Charred.

Treatment:

• Lay casualty down if possible.
• Douse area with large amounts of water (10 mins).
• Whilst cooling check the patients' breathing and pulse.
• If possible remove rings, watches, belts etc. from burnt area before skin starts to swell.
• Carefully remove clothing unless It is sticking to the bum.
• Cover the bum with a sterile bum sheet or freshly laundered sheet or pillowcase, plastic kitchen film or where applicable a clean plastic bag.
• Ensure an ambulance is on its way.
• Treat for shock.

Monitor And Record:
Breathing, pulse and level of response.

Prevention:

Most burns can be prevented. Take special care with children:

• Do not let small babies go near a fire.
• Keep lamps and matches out of reach.
• Turn handles of pans on the stove so children cannot reach them.

Minor Burns that Do Not Form Blisters (1st degree)

To help ease the pain and lessen the damage caused by a minor burn, put the burned part in cold water at once. No other treatment is needed. Take aspirin or acetaminophen for pain. Avoid giving aspirin to children.

Burns that Cause Blisters (2nd degree)

Do not break blisters. Do not put ice on the burn.

If the blisters are broken, wash gently with soap and boiled water that has been cooled. Sterilize a little Vaseline by heating it until it boils. Let it cool and spread it on a piece of sterile gauze. Then put the gauze on the burn loosely so it does not put pressure on the wound.

If there is no Vaseline, leave the burn uncovered. Never smear on grease or butter.

It is very important to keep the burn as clean as possible. Protect it from dirt, dust, and flies.

If signs of infection appear pus, bad smell, fever, or swollen lymph nodes apply compresses of warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt to 1 liter water) 3 times a day. (If possible, add 2 tablespoons of bleach to the salt water.) Boil both the water and cloth before use. With great care, remove the dead skin and flesh. You can spread on a little antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. In severe cases, consider taking an antibiotic such as penicillin or ampicillin.

Deep Burns (3rd degree) 

These destroy the skin and expose raw or charred flesh are always serious, as are any burns that cover large areas of the body. Take the person to a health center at once. In the meantime wrap the burned part with a very clean cloth or towel moistened with clean water.

If it is impossible to get medical help, treat the burn as described above. If you do not have Vaseline, leave the burn in the open air, covering it only with a loose cotton cloth or sheet to protect it from dust and flies. Keep the cloth very clean and change it each time it gets dirty with liquid or blood from the burn. Give penicillin.

Never put grease, fat, hides, coffee, herbs, or feces on a burn.

Covering the burn with honey helps prevent and control infection and speed healing. Gently wash off the old honey and put on new at least twice a day.

Special Precautions for Very Serious Burns

Any person who has been badly burned can easily go into shock because of combined pain, fear, and the loss of body fluids from the oozing burn.

Comfort and reassure the burned person. Give him aspirin or acetaminophen for the pain and codeine if you can get it. Bathing open wounds in slightly salty water also helps calm pain. Put 1 teaspoon of salt for each liter of cool, boiled water.

Give the burned person plenty of liquid. If the burned area is large (more than twice the size of his hand), make up the following drink:

The burned person should drink this as often as possible, especially until he urinates frequently. He should try to drink 4 liters a day for a large burn, and 12 liters a day for a very large burn.

It is important for persons who are badly burned to eat foods rich in protein. No type of food needs to be avoided.

Burns around the Joints

When someone is badly burned between the fingers, in the armpit, or at other joints, gauze pads with Vaseline on them should be put between the burned surfaces to prevent them from growing together as they heal. Also, fingers, arms, and legs should be straightened completely several times a day while healing. This is painful but helps prevent stiff scars that limit movement. While the burned hand is healing, the fingers should be kept in a slightly bent position.

See also - First Aid - Wounds Due to Heat