A burn means tissue damage caused by external factors. Burns can be thermal (occur under the influence of high temperatures), chemical (occur under the influence of chemicals), electrical (are the result of electric current). The faster the first aid is provided for burns, the greater the likelihood of a speedy recovery of the victim.
Burns are divided into the following categories:
- First degree. It is characterized by acute pain, redness of the skin, swelling of the affected area.
- The second degree is characterized by rapid peeling of the skin surface in the affected areas. In such places, bubbles with a yellowish liquid form. Burnt skin is extremely painful.
- With the third degree, necrosis of the upper layers of the skin is observed.
- The fourth degree occurs under the influence of high temperatures. In this case, the necrosis of deeper tissues occurs.
Proper first aid for burns greatly facilitates further treatment. It is immediately necessary to stop the exposure of all hazardous factors to the victim. As a rule, clothing that is burning, smoldering, or soaked in chemicals should be removed. A person must be taken out of the danger zone. The skin areas where burns formed must be cooled very quickly.
First aid for burns with alkalis, acids, metal salts consists in washing the affected area with water. Water flushes the substance and cools the tissues. With acid burns, the sore spot is washed with an additional 2% soda solution. In case of alkali damage - 1% citric acid solution. A sterile dressing is then applied.
First aid for burns to the victim should include pain relief. A person needs to be given, for example, several tablets of dipyrone, etc. Ointment for burns, as well as any powder, is not used.
With closed skin, it’s a little harder to act. First aid for burns in this case includes the following: around the burnt surface, it is necessary to cut off existing pieces of tissue. You should not delete them. A sterile dressing is applied on top.
For burns of the first or second degree, alcohol compresses are recommended : folded in several layers gauze napkins are moistened in ethyl alcohol and applied to the burn. Waxed paper is placed on top and everything is bandaged. This will help reduce pain. If more than 30% of the skin surface is affected, then the person must be covered with a clean sheet and provided with rest.
If the injured person does not complain of nausea, it is necessary to constantly drink it in small portions of warm coffee, tea, an acid-base solution (per liter of water a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of soda). In order to warm, a person needs to be wrapped in blankets, warm clothes and so on.
It is very important to observe safety rules and protect yourself and others from accidents.