Burns
Burns means the death of the tissues of the affected body as a result of their destruction by heat, sunlight, chemicals, or radiation (Radiation), one of the most common injuries to people, especially children in their homes.
Treatment of burns
The burns are treated according to their degree and the treatment is as follows:
Treatment of minor burns
For minor burns. The following tips can be followed:
- Remove accessories such as rings, bracelets, and anything else around the affected area before they are inflated by burning.
- Cool the affected area by pouring cold water for 10 to 15 minutes or more, or by applying a wet towel to the affected area to reduce pain.
- Do not open the bubbles if formed, and if opened, the area must be cleaned with soap and water, and wiping the area with a lotion containing antibiotic, and then covered with a bandage does not stick, it is worth mentioning that large bubbles require a doctor to deal with.
- Apply a moisturizing cream or Aloe Vera gel to help relieve pain.
- Take one of the painkillers purchased from the pharmacy without the need for over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. Examples of these drugs are ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen Sodium (in English: Naproxen Sodium).
- In some cases, tetanus Vaccine is given to patients with tetanus vaccine, and doctors are advised to take this vaccine at least every 10 years.
- Check with your doctor when you notice any signs of infection, such as pus discharge from the burning site, or increased pain, redness and swelling. You should also check your doctor for minor burns that cover a large area of the patient's body.
Treatment of severe burns
Serious burns poses a risk to the casualty, so emergency calls must be made as soon as possible, and some actions can be taken pending emergency:
- Remove the casualty as much as possible for the cause of the incineration, taking into account not to remove the clothes attached to his body.
- Check for signs of blood circulation such as breathing, coughing, or movement. In the absence of signs of blood circulation, the paramedic can do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Remove jewelry, accessories, and clothing around the affected area, because burns cause rapid swelling of the affected area, as well as remove these pieces from vital areas such as neck and waist.
- Raise the affected area to a higher level of the heart if possible.
- Cover the burned area with a clean piece of clothing, or with a damp, cool bandage.
- Do not sink severe and large burns with cold water, because this will put the patient at risk of low body temperature and low blood pressure.
Types of burns
Depending on the temperature of the incinerator and the time period in which the surface remains exposed to incineration, burns can be classified depending on their depth into the following types:
- First degree burns: superficial burns accompanied by swelling and redness without blisters. Maris feels pain that can be alleviated by some types of painkillers. First-degree burns are treated as minor burns when treated, Emergency should be checked if the burns include most of the face, hands, feet, vagina, buttocks, or main joints of the body. First-degree burns often take one week to heal.
- Second degree burns: In this type of burns, partial damage to the skin layer, accompanied by bubbles, swelling of the place of burning, and appear in red or white or as a spot, and feel the pain of severe, and treat the burns of the second degree when processed As a minor burns if the burning diameter does not exceed 7.6 cm, but if the diameter exceeds 7.6 cm, it is treated as severe burns. It should be noted that the emergency should be checked if the burning in the face, hands, feet, vulva, buttocks, The President.
- Third-degree burns: Incineration includes all layers of the skin, in addition to the layer of fat, may reach the bones and muscles, and suffers from severe pain, and difficulty breathing, and shows the skin in a white or black and charred.
- Fourth-degree burns: Third-degree burns, but the damage extends to tendons, joints, and bones.
Burn complications
The third-degree burns are the most likely to cause complications in the injury compared to the first and second degrees burns, and the complications that may result from burns include:
- Tetanus (Tetanus): Burns of all degrees may cause tetanus infection. Tetanus is a bacterial infection that affects the nerves, leading to muscle contractions.
- Infections: All types of burns allow bacteria to enter the body of the injured through the open skin as a result of burning.
- Shock: which may threaten the life of the injured person.
- Hypovolemia due to the loss of large amounts of blood in severe burns.
- Hypothermia (hypothermia).