First Aid, Scalds, First/second/third degree burns in fire explain easy method

First Aid For Burns

Introduction:-first aid is the initial assistance or  treatment given to a casualty for an injury before the arrival of a qualified doctor or before the victim is shifted to a safe place.

instance of people getting burn injuries during fire fighting is quite frequent. Firefighters are not the only persons in danger or suffering an occupational burn injury. Those in other professions such as industrial workers, office workers, family members at home are also at risk of burn accidents.

Burns:-

These are injuries to the skin caused by:-

• Dry heat of open flame or molten hot metals or electricity

• Corrosive substance – acid and alkalies

• Friction

• Radiation

Scalds:-

These are burn injuries to the skin caused by wet heat such as

• Hot water

• Steam

• Hot oils or solvents

Types of burns / scalds

• First degree:- only the outer layer of skin is affected.

Symptoms:-redness, swelling and acute pain. Healing may take a few days.

• Second degree:- also known as partial thickness burn extend through the outer skin layer into the inner skin layer. Characteristics include formation of blisters weeping of fluids, Severe pain and swelling. healing takes a few weeks.

• Third degree:-also known as full thickness burns, extend through all the skin layers into the the underlying fat muscles and bone. Characteristics include white, charred or cherry red skin and dry appearance. No pain and no swelling. Healing may take quite a long time and require grafting.

Severity of burns / scalds

• Minor:- less than 20% of the body surface is affected by 1 degree burns, less than 15% of the body surface is affected by second degree and less than 2 percent of the the body surface is affected buy third degree burns excluding face hands feet groin of major joints.

• Moderate:- 20% to 75% of body surface has first degree burns, 15 to 30% of body surface has second degree burns and less than 10% of body surface has third degree burns excluding face, hands feet, groin or major joints.

• Critical:-more than 75 percent of body surface has first degree burns, more than 30 percent of body surface has second degree burns and more than 10 percent of the body has 3rd degree burns. second or third degree burns involving the face, hands, feet, groin or major joints, all burns complicated by injuries to the respiratory tract and other soft tissues and bones.

Causes:-

The causes of burns are many varied as:

• Contact with molten metals

• Splashes of hot liquids

• Splashes of chemicals

• Leakage of steam under pressure

• Contact with hot surfaces of vessels for pipes

• Ignition off clothes

• Friction due to contact with moving parts

First Aid Measures:-

• Immerse the burning in cool or ordinary water for at least 15 minutes or till burning sensation stop switch will cool the burn injury without causing further damage. This should be done within 45 minutes from the time of injury.

• Chemical burns should be washed with water for at least 15 minutes. Never try to neutralize the chemical as this may Cause damage.

• Dry or solid chemicals should be brushed off first before using water for washing as these may provide more heat (heat of reaction).

• Move the victim to a safer place

• Do not try to remove charred clothing as this may Cause more injury to the skin. being naturally sterilized in fire, they are safe too.

• Remove jewelry item at the earliest, this may become difficult later when swelling comes.

• Do not break blisters.

• Do not apply any ointment.

• Cover the burnt skin with sterile dressing or clean cloth.

• Get medical attention at the earliest.