First aid for burns, treatment of burns 1, 2 and 3 degrees - what you need to know.
Burns are one of the most common injuries that are characterized by damage to the skin, muscles or bones due to exposure to high temperatures or chemicals. The longer the damaging factor affects the tissues, the stronger the burn. Depending on its severity, this or that scheme of treatment is prescribed.
The most common classification, which gives complete information about burns and their clinical course, is the division by type of injury.
Highlights thermal, chemical, electrical and radiation burns.
Treatment of burns depends on their severity, on the damaging factor, on the condition of the person and the concomitant injuries.
There are four degrees of burns, which are characterized by both general and specific symptoms.
First aid gives a person the opportunity not to aggravate the condition and prevent the development of complications. First of all, it is necessary to interrupt contact with the damaging factor. If the skin is not damaged, then the burn can be cooled with cold water or make a wet cool compress. For burns of the first degree, these actions will suffice.
At the second degree, blisters with serous contents often appear. They can not be pierced, it is only possible to apply a dry and not too tight bandage to protect the surface from dirt and dust.
It is a great misconception that any burns should be greased with something greasy, for example, sour cream or some kind of ointment. In fact, in most cases there is enough cooling and bandages.
It should be noted that the defeat of tissue of the second degree must be taken seriously. If there is a suggestion that an infection could get into the wound, then it is worthwhile to seek medical help.
Third and fourth degree burns require urgent hospitalization. But during the time that an ambulance rides, a person can also be helped. You can not rip off the adherent cloth of clothing from the wound, if possible, you need to remove from the person not charred clothes and ornaments. Burns can not be immersed in cool water.
It is only possible to apply cold compresses for a few seconds, which dulls the heat and pain. In the event that a severe burn is caused by a chemical substance, it is allowed to treat the wound with cold water. Any damage before the arrival of the ambulance, if there is such an opportunity, you need to protect against dirt and infections by applying bandages from soft bandages.
See also: first aid for burns with boiling water
What are the burns?
The most common classification, which gives complete information about burns and their clinical course, is the division by type of injury.
Highlights thermal, chemical, electrical and radiation burns.
- Thermal burns result from exposure to live tissues of fire, hot liquid, hot steam or hot objects. The degree of burn can be different, but most often there is a second or third degree of severity of damage. The most harmful effect is on the flame and hot objects. In the first case, the tissue of the burnt clothing, which sticks to the wound, can be dangerous, creating a difficulty in removing it. Particles of the material can enter the affected area, causing additional inflammation, which will worsen a person's condition. In the second case, burns are often quite serious, reaching in their severity to the fourth degree. Greater danger is represented by additional injuries that may occur when the incandescent object is removed from the affected area. If the burn is severe, the tissues begin to exfoliate, aggravating the pain and wound.
- Chemical burns occur due to the effects of various chemicals, for example, acids, alkalis and heavy metal salts. Burns with acids and heavy metal salts are superficial because of the rapid formation of the scab, which becomes a barrier against further penetration of the attacking substance. Burns with alkalis are more serious, since a scab is not formed.
- Electrical burns are somewhat reminiscent of injuries from the effects of the flame, but the damaged areas are two - at the entry and exit points of the discharge arc. At the place of contact of electricity with the skin there is a round or oval sign of gray or yellow color, but the main lesion is inside the person, in the organs and internal tissues. Electrical burns are dangerous due to concomitant injuries, for example, inflammation of the outer shells of the eyes, skin metallization and complications from the central nervous system( CNS).
- The causes of sunburn are light and ionizing radiation. In the first case, the burn occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to sunlight, which is quite common in the warm season. Such injuries rarely reach the second degree of severity, most often there is a first degree with redness and soreness of the skin. With ionizing radiation, burns are not deep, but due to the action of microparticles, the regenerative function of organs and tissues decreases, which greatly complicates the treatment. Inflammation can progress, infection is possible, which will greatly aggravate the condition of a person and complicate the subsequent healing of the wound.
Treatment of burns depends on their severity, on the damaging factor, on the condition of the person and the concomitant injuries.
Burns 1, 2, 3 and 4 degrees: what you need to know
There are four degrees of burns, which are characterized by both general and specific symptoms.
- 1) For burns of the first degree only the surface layer of the epidermis is affected, which is expressed in redness, slight edema, but severe pain. The sensitivity of the damaged area is greatly enhanced, therefore it is impossible to touch the burn without unpleasant sensations. Such a burn passes quickly and does not require serious treatment.
- 2) The second degree is the damage to the deeper layers of the skin. There is redness of the skin, swelling, blisters with serous contents appear. Blisters should never be pierced. Such actions, firstly, will increase pain, secondly, increase the risk of infection, which will result in severe inflammation and difficulties in treatment. Pain sensations with second-degree burns can be quite strong. If you provide first aid in time, the pain will begin to subside after 3-4 hours with a small area burned. If the area of damage is more than six square centimeters, you may need painkillers, including local ones, as well as qualified medical help. Second-degree burns heal on average 1-2 weeks.
- 3) For third degree burns, the skin is affected all its thickness. A black or dark brown scab forms. Often there are individual bubbles prone to fusion, with serous or bloody contents. The sensitivity of the affected area decreases with this degree of severity. Hospitalization is necessary to avoid infection.
- 4) Burns of the fourth degree affect not only the skin, but also muscles, tendons, bones. The tissues are charred, have a black or dark brown color, necrosis develops. Sensitivity usually disappears. This condition is an occasion for urgent hospitalization, since there is a high probability of a person developing a pain shock.
First aid for burns
First aid gives a person the opportunity not to aggravate the condition and prevent the development of complications. First of all, it is necessary to interrupt contact with the damaging factor. If the skin is not damaged, then the burn can be cooled with cold water or make a wet cool compress. For burns of the first degree, these actions will suffice.
At the second degree, blisters with serous contents often appear. They can not be pierced, it is only possible to apply a dry and not too tight bandage to protect the surface from dirt and dust.
Second-degree burns also need to be cooled. If 5 minutes of cooling is sufficient for light damage, more severe burns should be cooled for at least 20 minutes.
It is a great misconception that any burns should be greased with something greasy, for example, sour cream or some kind of ointment. In fact, in most cases there is enough cooling and bandages.
It should be noted that the defeat of tissue of the second degree must be taken seriously. If there is a suggestion that an infection could get into the wound, then it is worthwhile to seek medical help.
Third and fourth degree burns require urgent hospitalization. But during the time that an ambulance rides, a person can also be helped. You can not rip off the adherent cloth of clothing from the wound, if possible, you need to remove from the person not charred clothes and ornaments. Burns can not be immersed in cool water.
It is only possible to apply cold compresses for a few seconds, which dulls the heat and pain. In the event that a severe burn is caused by a chemical substance, it is allowed to treat the wound with cold water. Any damage before the arrival of the ambulance, if there is such an opportunity, you need to protect against dirt and infections by applying bandages from soft bandages.
See also: first aid for burns with boiling water