Home Health Burns: first aid and follow-up treatment

Burns: first aid and follow-up treatment

■Health

by Bestpresent - Nov 10, 2016

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Every person has experienced burns at least once in his life. Scalded with boiling water, burned out in the sun, opened a bottle with unknown contents - and hello, burn. The topic of this article is the types of burns, how to provide first aid and for any of them. We will also reveal the secrets of how to cure the burn mark as soon as possible.

Types of burns

First, you need to understand what caused the burn. Only then can we provide high-quality first aid... After all, each type of burn is treated in its own way.

The following types of burns are distinguished, based on the causative agent:

chemical - acquired as a result of the reaction of various acids on tissues - household chemicals, iodine;
electric - when receiving a shock by a current discharge;
thermal - occurs when the skin comes into contact with high temperatures;
radiation - overheating in the sun or exposure to radioactive substances.

Scientists have identified a systemic classification of the degree of burns. Each has its own characteristics and rehabilitation period.

Burns:

Small swelling and redness of the place of deification are characteristic. The upper layer of the epidermis is destroyed. As a rule, it goes away on its own, after 5-7 days. And leaves no trace behind.
Blisters filled with a clear liquid with a yellow tint are attached to the above symptoms. These burns take about 2 weeks to heal. If there were no complications - mechanical rupture of the blister or scratching, then such a burn does not leave traces.
Pronounced pain, bleeding and mucus from the blisters. It is impossible to touch the place of injury. Often accompanied by fever, intoxication and dehydration. All layers of the skin are affected, not excluding the subcutaneous tissue. All three grades preserve the skin's ability to heal itself.
Death of skin tissue, bones or tendons. In this case, you cannot do without hospitalization - you will need surgery. Scars and scars remain.

Remember not to let a burn wound take its course. With negligence, the development of burn disease is possible. In which even a harmless first-degree skin damage can develop to a more complex and painful form.

Causes of burns

In general, a burn is tissue damage. It can be caused by the influence of chemistry, heat or electricity.

The causes of burns can be:

hot liquids, steam;
electricity;
fire and hot smoke;
alkalis and acids;
Sun rays;
radioactive substances;
hot objects.

In addition to standard skin burns, damage of this nature can occur anywhere in the body. The mucous membranes are damaged. For example, the stomach - when eating prohibited foods such as vinegar, food is too spicy. You can also get an eye burn. It occurs when you look at too bright light or welding.

Burn injuries have a percentage. For example, adoration of the head or one hand equates to a burn of 9% of the skin. Scalding the gudge, leg or back gives 18% of burns from the surface of the whole body.

First aid for burns

General guidelines for quality care:

Remove the damaging factor - pull a person out of the fire, remove from the sun, etc.
The burn should be rinsed with cool water. When chemicals react, this measure will prevent further tissue destruction. And with a thermal burn, the cold will reduce the pain effect.
It is forbidden to apply oil or cream to the affected area. This will block the oxygen supply and prevent the skin from "cooling".
Traditional medicine suggests lubricating first-degree thermal burns with toothpaste. To enhance the cooling effect.
Call an ambulance immediately. Be sure to consult a specialist about the extent of the lesion and further treatment.
Provide the victim with plenty of drink.

Help with burns depends on the extent of the injury. So, with a burn of the first and second degree, it is enough to treat the wound with alcohol and apply a sterile bandage. To prevent the development of bacteria and prevent complications. The main condition is to be extremely careful and not to allow mechanical opening of the blisters.

If the burn site has bruising or carbonized tissue, an ambulance should be called immediately. One cannot cope independently in such a situation, without specialized medical education. The maximum that is possible is to give the victim a drink if he is conscious.

When providing first aid, it is worth remembering the following rules:

any burn should be poured with cold water to reduce pain;
if pieces of clothing are stuck to the wound, they cannot be torn off, the bandage is applied directly to the fabric;
do not allow pathogenic bacteria to get on the wound - the mouth and nose of the person helping should be covered with a bandage;
if there is a decrease in cardiac activity - a drop in pressure, an increase in heart rate, it is recommended to inject caffeine or cordiamine subcutaneously.

Helping a person injured by an electric shock is different from helping with other injuries. In this situation, every second counts!

Measures of assistance in case of electric shock:

Wear dry gloves and rubber shoes.
Cut off the victim from the current. De-energize the unit or knock out the cord from a person's hands with a non-metallic object. In the event that you need to de-energize the scene, have a candle ready, as the light will go out everywhere. If the victim is at a height - prevent the fall.
Pull the victim aside. It is strictly forbidden to touch the body, wet clothes or shoes. It is good to use special gloves or a rubber mat when doing this. You need to move around the incident area in small steps - the current could electrify the soil.
If the wire remains in the victim's hands, cut it with a sharp object with a non-metallic handle, for example, an ax with a wooden hatchet or a shovel.

Call a physician immediately. While the help is on the way, you can:

to provide the patient with peace;
conduct a careful examination of the damage, if there are bruises or fractures - provide appropriate assistance;
in case of loss of consciousness, urgently place the patient on a soft surface and try to reanimate;
remove everything that can interfere with breathing - unbutton the collar, take off your clothes;
cleanse the respiratory organs of mucus or blood, provide air flow;
sprinkle with water, rub or warm the body;
bring ammonia to your nose;
in the absence of breathing and pulse, give artificial respiration and heart massage.

Even if the victim is conscious, calling a doctor is mandatory and urgent. The current damages internal organs and nerve endings.

How to treat burns

After the pain syndrome is removed, you can start treating the wound.

For the first 3 days, all therapeutic measures will be aimed at the earliest possible restoration of skin tissues. Subject to first and second degree burns.
Treat the injured area with an antiseptic - a solution of furacilin, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide.
Apply panthenol ointment to the burn. This will speed up the restoration of the integument. Today, pharmaceutical companies offer a wide range of sprays with this substance. In the case of a large surface and "fresh" damage, the use of a spray is even preferable. This will avoid unnecessary touch irritation of the inflamed skin. Sprays can be used no more than 4 times in 24 hours.
Apply a sterile bandage and secure it. Monitor the integrity of the bladder for a 2nd degree burn. The bandage should be worn for the first week, changing it every 12 hours.
After the main edema and redness subside, you can start treatment with antiseptic ointments (Levomekol, Solcoseryl) and traditional medicine. They will be discussed below.
In case of sunburn, it is recommended to drink an antipyretic. Since the sun raises the temperature of the whole body, while thermal - only the affected area.
If white discharge appears on the wound, you need to take an antibiotic. Suppuration of the damage began.

How to treat a chemical burn

A chemical burn occurs when tissue reacts with a chemical. The destruction of proteins and membranes of the skin occurs. Most often, chemical damage is aggravated by the appearance of ulcers and the development of inflammation.

The cause of a chemical burn is the contact with tissues of substances such as:

kerosene;
petrol;
vinegar on the mucous membrane;
acids - sulfuric, nitric;
alkalis;
bitumen;
high concentration of hydroperite;
phosphorus.

It is also detrimental for the body to inhale the vapors of the substances mentioned above.

When exposed to alkali on the tissue, the burned area becomes covered with a whitish bloom or crust. The most dangerous type of chemicals - they immediately eat into the skin and cause irreversible consequences.
A burn due to the ingress of sulfuric acid first turns white, then turns gray. A burn caused by a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide has the same shade.
Nitric acid gives a yellowish-green hue to the burn area.
Sulfuric acid stains the injury yellow.

Help with a chemical burn includes the following measures:

remove things stained with irritant;
rinse the area thoroughly with clean cold water for at least 20 minutes;
if the chemical is in powder form, shake it off, then rinse it;
the acid reaction can be washed off with a soapy or low-saturated soda solution;
a weak vinegar solution helps with an alkali burn;
lime injury must be treated with a 20% sugar solution;
apply a sterile dressing;
go to a medical institution.

Preventive measures to prevent burn situations include:

Compliance with safety precautions.
Caution when handling electrical and heating appliances.
Increased attention when working with open fire.

Burn remedy

For the most effective and harmless medicines for burns, we turn to traditional medicine.

List of the best home medicine remedies:

if the burn has just occurred, moisten the wound with cold water and cover with baking soda;
cut the aloe leaf in half and tie it tightly to the burn site;
chop the cabbage leaf into gruel, mix with egg white and apply to the wound 3 times a day;
dairy products;
grated raw potatoes;
strong brewing of black tea;
a mixture of salt and brandy;
beaten egg white, just apply as an ointment;
vegetable oil mixed with soda relieves pain well;
mix egg yolk with 2 tbsp. sour cream and one tbsp. oils and apply once a day to the damaged area;
sea buckthorn oil;
it is good to add honey to any of the recipes for burns - it will soften and moisturize irritated skin;
lard;
mummy;
butter and propolis in a ratio of 10: 1;
fresh blueberries;
chop the stem of rhubarb into gruel and mix with honey, in a 1: 1 ratio;
a decoction of eucalyptus leaves;
decoction of oak bark;
brewed ivy leaves;
hard-boiled chicken egg, remove the yolks and fry in a pan until blackened. This "ointment" accelerates regeneration;
gruel from boiled onion husks.

A lot of good reviews about the mixture of salt and brandy. It is difficult to decide on such a measure, but it is a good antiseptic. But such a homemade ointment has a strong healing effect. Mix beeswax with spruce resin and lard. Boil, cool and apply to the wound 2 times a day. An almost miraculous recovery is attributed to this recipe - after 5 dressings.

Eye burn

You can burn not only the eyeball, but also the retina itself and the eyelids. An eye burn is accompanied by:

sharp pain;
decreased visual acuity;
tearing;
swelling;
inflammation century.

The most common cause of burns eyes is the ingress of a chemical. Eye burns also have their own severity system. If at the first degree only the eyelids and mucous membrane are damaged, then at the 4th degree the cornea of the eye becomes opaque. And in this case, the eyelids are most often charred. The first degree of damage goes away in 2 days, the second - up to 20 days. The third degree is completely cured within 2-3 months. But the 4th degree can be treated for about 2 years, but some of the results cannot be gotten rid of.

Eye burn symptoms:

Sensation of a speck of dust in the eye.
Redness.
Edema.
Sharp pain.
Light sensitivity.
Jumps in visual acuity.
Headache.

How to treat an eye burn

First aid for eye damage:

Rinse eye thoroughly and copiously with water or saline. At least 15 minutes - All reagents must be washed. Remember that alkali must never be rinsed with water. A reaction will be created. A mixture of water and vinegar or boric acid will help neutralize the alkali in the eye.
Treat the skin with an antiseptic, but not mucous membranes.
Place an antibacterial ointment under the lower eyelid.
Apply a sterile bandage. Place a cold, wet, clean cloth under it.
To darken the damaged eye - wear glasses or cover with a cloth.
Seek hospitalization in a medical facility.

An eye burn is not a situation where you can try to heal yourself. If such a situation arises, do not be negligent about your health. See a doctor and strictly follow all prescribed appointments.

The only thing you can do yourself in this case is eyelid massage. But how to carry it out correctly needs to be clarified with a doctor, taking into account the specific situation.