First Aid - Wounds Due to Heat:

(Burns, sun, chemicals, electrical, radiation)

Goals: Prevent infection, relieve pain, reestablish fluid lost.

Rules to follow for burns caused by heat or electricity:
1) MAKE SURE that the cause of the burn is stopped. POWER OFF!
2) Cover the wound with a sterile dressing. (In case of electrical burn, do it at the start & end contact point.)
3) Don't take off burned clothes unless real hot or still burning.
4) Give fluids to drink if medical aid is delayed.
5) DON'T remove blister nor prick them.
6) Don't apply oily, greasy substances or cotton wool on burns.
7) Apply A/R if needed.
8) Transport to hospital.

RULES TO FOLLOW FOR CHEMICAL BURNS:
1) Wash without delay with much water to dilute & make disappear the chemical product.
2) Take off the clothes which have this chemical product.
3) Give F/Aid as for other burns.
4) If chemical product is in powder, remove the excess quickly before washing.

BURNS TO EYES:
BY HEAT: Treat it as skin burns.
BY CHEMICAL:
1) Wash immediately the eye with a lot of water.
2) Apply a loose dressing.
3) Bring him to doctor quickly.

SUNBURNS:
If light burn: Use softening lotion or burn ointment found in most drug store.
SUNBURNS TIP: * PUT IN DESERT FILE**
People from the desert told me: Take a tomato, mash it & apply it on your sunburn to kill the heat & heal you.

BURN PREVENTION:
1) Don't smoke in bed, the ashes that fall could be yours.
2) MAKE SURE all cigarettes, & matches are"out"
3) Put off grease, oil or wax fire with chemical product or salt or by smothering them. Water makes it worst by spreading it.
4) Extinguish quickly the burning clothes, by using any means at hand, water, soft drink, your clothes, on the victim to smother the flame, roll him in a blanket or carpet or on floor.

FIRE RESCUE:
1) While tempting to save a person in a building in fire do this:
A) Keep the doors closed. Don't open a door that is hot to the touch, if you do you will find it in flame for there is a fire raging on behind. So find another mean to reach the victim.
B) Cover your mouth & nose with a wet cloth to freshen the air that you breath. Stay close to windows where air is
cooler.
C) Crawl near the floor where air is purer& cooler.
D) In the impossibility to get out, when the only issue is a window, refrain from panic & don't jump, wait for help & make a rope using sheets, then slide down.
If you have to jump then you can diminish the height by letting yourself hung down at the end of your hands before jumping.
E) Try to persuade the caged persons not to jump. Organised rescue can take time.
Throw a rope to the window or lean a ladder to it. Tell the> victim to tie a rope or blankets to a heavy piece, ex: bed, room, heater, door knob.

SICKNESS DUE TO HEAT:
INSULATION:
Due to over exposition to sun (beach sun burns)!
HEAT STROKE:
Due to a long period in a very hot place or sun.
SYMPTOMS:
Agitation going to convulsion even to coma. Nausea Headache, vomits, face congestion (red), skin very hot and dry.
1) Cool the victim as quickly as possible.
2) Transport to a cool place & remove clothes if need be.
3) Water down his body with fresh water or put him in cool bath.
4) With a fan make air to circulate around the victim.
5) Don't give any stimulants
6) Lift head if face is congested.

EXHAUSTION BY HEAT:
Is result of excessive lost of body fluid & salt, during an exposition to a very humid or hot temperature. Cramps can appear in those conditions in the stomach & limb muscle.

SYMPTOMS:
Exhaustion, dizziness, staggering, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomits or both, skin cold & damp, excessive transpiration especially of the face and forehead, paleness, victim can complain of being COLD.

1) Transport the victim in a cool place, preferably well ventilated as well.
2) Lay person down, (head down if pale.)
3) Keep him a little warm if complains of being cold.
4) Replace the liquid loss by making drink gulps of salted water (2 tsp. of salt per quart of water)
5) Bring person to hospital.