In life, different situations arise when others or loved ones need first aid. This is getting into an accident, and frostbite, and electric shocks. A common problem is burns. This term refers to tissue damage caused by thermal, electrical, chemical or radiation energy. Today we will consider lesions caused by aggressive substances, and first aid for chemical burns.
The need for first aid
Everyone should know how first aid is provided. This topic is very relevant, because anyone can be in trouble. Confirmation is the classification below. People affected by burns are divided into several groups:
- persons affected by their own negligence, carelessness;
- accident victims;
- people affected by the actions of criminals;
- Rescue workers.
First aid for chemical burns of the skin and mucous membranes is very important. The sooner it turns out, the faster the further exposure to traumatic factors stops. Thanks to first aid, severe consequences and even death are prevented.
General information about chemical burns
Chemical burns occur due to the negative effects on the skin or mucous membranes of aggressive substances. The following degrees of lesions are distinguished:
- I degree - the affected area becomes lumpy, redness of the skin is observed;
- II degree - on the damaged and reddened skin, the upper layers of the dermis die (with a thermochemical burn, bubbles appear containing a yellowish liquid);
- III degree - tissue necrosis (necrosis) begins on the affected area, which is manifested by a change in skin color;
- IV degree - deep-lying tissues (subcutaneous fatty tissue, muscles, bones) are affected.
Chemical burns: statistics and severity of lesions
Before considering the first aid for chemical burns, it is worth noting that the lesions most often occur in people through their own fault. The misuse of various substances at home, neglect of safety rules at work are the main reasons. Statistics show that chemical burns more often appear due to exposure to acids (in 43% of cases). Much less often, lesions of the skin and mucous membranes occur due to the influence of alkalis (in 21.5% of cases).
The severity of chemical burns is determined not by the influence of an external factor, but by the physicochemical changes that occur in the area of the injury. Substances entering the body or mucous membranes destroy tissues until they are neutralized or diluted and removed. The severity of damage is determined by several factors:
- the nature of the chemical;
- duration of contact;
- concentration and volume of the substance;
- mechanism of action;
- degree of penetration into the tissue;
- on time whether first aid was provided for chemical burns, the removal of clothing soaked with aggressive substance.
General algorithm for medical care
When you see a person who suffered from a chemical burn, you need to immediately call an ambulance team, because only when you are in a medical facility, effective treatment and quick recovery are possible. Then you should inspect the scene of the incident in order to understand whether it is dangerous to be here. If there is a threat to life, then rescuers and other emergency services must be called.
If there is no risk to life, then you can approach the victim and provide first aid for chemical burns. If necessary, it is recommended to use personal protective equipment - masks, gloves. First of all, clothing impregnated with chemicals must be removed from the victim. This should be done carefully to prevent damage to other parts of the body.
Further assistance depending on the active substance
A person who does not have a medical education is not required to provide medical care. That is why in some cases, you can refuse to perform any measures. For example, if the substance that caused the burn is unknown, it is best to wait for the arrival of specialists. The first medical aid depends on the cause of the chemical damage.
However, the ambulance team does not always come quickly to the challenge. In order not to miss valuable time in the event of a dangerous situation, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the rules of assistance in advance. They are listed in the table below.
Chemical burns: first aid procedures| The chemical that caused the burn | First measures | Follow-up General Measures |
| Acids and Alkalis | Rinse the burned surface thoroughly with running water. | - Cover the burn wound with a wide sterile dressing (you can take clean and dry tissue).
- In case of phosphorus burn, moisten the dressing with a 2–4% soda solution.
- Lay or put the victim so that he experiences the least pain.
- Observe the person until the ambulance arrives.
|
| Phosphorus | - Rinse off phosphorus particles with running water.
- If possible, remove remaining particles from the wound.
|
| Quicklime | - Do not rinse with water.
- Rinse off quicklime particles with liquid petroleum jelly or vegetable oil.
- If possible, remove remaining particles from the wound.
|
| Phenol, cresol | - Do not rinse with water.
- Use a 40% solution of ethyl alcohol (vodka) for washing.
|
Some features of first aid
A chemical is more effectively removed under a strong stream of water. However, this process is not fast. Chemical burns are washed for a long time:
- with acid damage, this process takes from 30 to 60 minutes;
- with alkali lesions - several hours.
Wounds are washed to reduce the sensation of burning sensation and pain. If the chemical substance is powdery, then it is first shaken off and then the surface of the skin is treated with a suitable agent.
Chemical eye burn: first aid
Eyes - an important organ of perception of the world. Without them, it is impossible to fully exist. That is why with chemical burns of the eyes , first aid should be provided as quickly as possible in order to maintain vision. If acid or alkali gets in, the following actions are recommended:
- Gently open the eyelids with your fingers and rinse your eyes with plenty of water, not cold and clean. When washing, it should drain from the nose to the temple.
- Put a blindfold on your eyes. They must both be closed so that the movements of the healthy eye do not cause discomfort in the affected eye.
- After first aid, a blindfolded person must be brought to a medical facility for further treatment.
When first aid is provided for burns with chemicals, the affected eyes are washed not only with water. When acid is used, sometimes a 2% solution of baking soda is used. To prepare it, take a glass of boiled water and add baking soda to it at the tip of a table knife.
If alkali enters, the eyes are washed with 0.1% citric acid solution. To prepare such a liquid, a couple drops of lemon juice are added to a glass of boiled water.
Often made mistakes
When providing first aid, people often make mistakes. They are trying to remove the chemical with wipes, swabs moistened with water. Do not use such remedies for burns. With wipes and tampons, the substance is not removed, but rubbed into the deeper layers of the skin.
Very often, people treat the affected areas with fat, egg yolk, dairy products, urine, washed with decoctions of medicinal plants. Knowing this, experts recommend that people do not use traditional medicine. First aid for chemical burns provided with the above products can lead to infection of a burn wound. Infection can ultimately cause death.
The importance of visiting a medical facility
A person affected by chemical burns must be taken to a hospital. The need for treatment in a hospital is primarily due to the fact that aggressive substances penetrate the bloodstream through the skin, wound surface, mucous membranes and spread throughout the body, disrupting its work. For example, when inhaling certain concentrations of ammonia, hydrogen fluoride, bromine vapor, strong acids and other similar substances, irritation of the eyes, mucous membranes of the larynx, nasopharynx, hoarseness, sore throat, nosebleed is observed. Possible swelling of the larynx and lungs, which is very dangerous.
The listed consequences are not the only ones. When oxalic or hydrofluoric acid is absorbed, the likelihood of hypocalcemia is high. If tannic, formic or picric acid, phosphorus or phenol enters the body, hepatic and renal failure, depression of the central nervous system can occur.
Hospital chemical burn treatment
The treatment regimen after first aid for chemical burns includes several components. It includes the elimination of the toxic effects of aggressive substances. For this:
- methods of accelerated elimination of toxic substances from the human body are applied;
- specific (antidote) therapy is used;
- medical measures are being taken to maintain and restore impaired body functions.
The treatment of the burn surfaces themselves is determined taking into account the degree of damage. With I and II degrees, ointment dressings are used. Medical professionals use drugs that help accelerate tissue regeneration. If suppuration appears, then instead of ointments, dressings are used, moistened with solutions of antiseptics. With deep burns, surgical treatment is used. First, a necrectomy is performed, during which dead tissue is removed. After the skin plastic defect is performed.
Chemical burns are quite dangerous. Do not rely on traditional medicine or the fact that everything itself will heal. In any case, you should contact a specialist after first aid for chemical burns. He will direct for treatment in a hospital or say that he can be used for recovery with minor skin lesions.