First aid for burns

Today, treating burns is a pressing problem. It is one of the most common domestic injuries. However, you can often get a burn in the workplace, where safety conditions are not respected.

When burns occur, you need to be able to provide proper first aid in time. On how quickly you help yourself or the injured person will depend on his further condition and the speed of treatment.

The human body is able to regenerate and repair minor burns itself without serious health consequences. More serious burns require immediate medical attention to prevent complications. Such wounds must be monitored to prevent infection and treated regularly with anti-inflammatory medications or anti-burn cloths.

If you happen to be near a burn victim, you firmly need to know how to treat a burn, otherwise you will cause more harm than good with your actions.

Causes of burns
A burn can occur due to exposure to:

Fire;
Hot liquid or steam;
Hot metal, glass, or other objects
Electric current;
Radiation (X-rays or radiation therapy);
ultraviolet light (sun or tanning bed);
active chemicals.
It is worth noting that the causes of burns can also be different, but all types of this kind of injury are classified according to the degree of damage caused and the symptomatology:

First degree. This burn affects only the outer layer of the skin. The injury is characterized by redness, swelling and painful sensations. The victim is given first aid and a short course of treatment is prescribed.
Second degree. This burn leads to damage not only to the epidermis, but also to the underlying layer – the dermis. The damage is characterized by red, white or blotchy skin, pain and swelling. It is possible to develop burn blisters and severe pain syndrome.
Third degree. This injury affects the fat layer under the skin. Burnt areas of the body become charred, black or white. Often third-degree burns damage the nervous and respiratory systems.

THE FIRST STEPS TO NEUTRALIZE THERMAL BURNS

Move the victim as far away from the heat source as possible;
If clothing or equipment is smoldering, get rid of it immediately. If clothing is stuck to the skin, cut it off or remove it carefully;
ice the injured area or use cold water;
treat the injured area with an ointment for burns;
In cases of serious injury call for an ambulance.

NEUTRALIZING CHEMICAL BURNS

Flush the affected area with a strong stream of water. Never treat the wound with oil.
If burns have been caused by quicklime or sulfuric acid, the wound should be Treat the wound with a dry cloth, do not use water;
Apply a sterile antiseptic dressing.
There are situations when people receive severe burns. Treating them outside the hospital requires special knowledge and skills. If a person does not possess them – it is better to immediately contact a doctor.

Degree of burns
There are three main degrees of burns: first, second and third. The assessment of each degree is based on the severity of the skin damage: the first degree is the most minor, and the third is the most serious.

Signs of damage are as follows:

First-degree burns: there is a violation of the epidermal layer, the skin is red, slightly swollen;
Second-degree burns: blisters and peeling of the skin;
Third-degree burns: there is tissue necrosis, the skin turns white, crusts form;
There are also fourth-degree burns. This degree includes all the symptoms of third-degree burns. The damage penetrates beyond the skin and spreads to the tendons and bones. This is when scars remain after a burn.

Chemical and electrical burns require immediate medical attention because they can affect internal organs, even if the external injuries are barely visible.

The type of burn does not depend on the cause of the burn. Scalds, for example, can cause all three types of burns – thermal, chemical and physical, depending on how hot the liquid is and how long it remains in contact with the skin.