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First Aid Online
[ Introduction ]-
[ CPR ]-
[ Wounds ]-
[ Fractures ]-
[ Burns ]-
[ Poisoning ]-
[ Rescue ]
~ Burns ~
Burns
Burns are injuries to body tissues
cased by heat, chemicals, electricity , radiation.
Classification of
burns
Superficial
Burns:-
These burns involve only the outer
layers of skin and result in general redness, swelling and extreme
tenderness, this type of burn usually heals well.
Intermediate
Burns :-
these burns involve the formation of
blisters and the area around the burn will be swollen and red. These burns
can be infected so you should seek medical aid.
Deep
burns:-
These burns involve all layers of skin.
The skin appear pale, waxy and sometimes, charred. These burns will be
relatively pain free because the nerves are damaged. Deep burns always
require medical attention.
Treatment
- Treat minor burns with cold water and
sterile or clean dressing.
- Don't soak major burns in cold water. Wrap
the affected areas in sterile or clean dressings.
Do Not apply lotions,
ointments or fat to injury.
Do Not break
blisters, remove any loose skin or other wise interfere with the injured
area.
Chemical Burns In The
Eye
To care for chemical burns to
the eye, you should,
- Immediately flood the eyes with
water.
- Keep running water flowing into the burned
eye.
- Continue washing the eye for the following
time periods.
- Acid burns, at least 5 minutes.
- Alkali burns, at least 15 minutes.
- Unknown caustic, at least 20
minutes.
- After washing , cover both eyes with
moistened pads, and transport as soon as possible.
Electrical
Burns
In the care for patients with electrical
burns, your primary concern should be with breathing and pulse.
For the
actual care of the burns, remember to look for at least two burn sites,
one where the electricity entered the patients body and the other where it
exited. Apply sterile or clean dressings, treat for shock and
transport.
Heat
Exhaustion
This is a condition caused by loss
of salt and water from the body, it is more common in persons unaccustomed
to working in a very hot, humid environment although in elderly persons,
it may follow a debilitating illness. The condition can be aggravated by a
stomach upset with diarrhea and vomiting.
Symptoms and
sine's
- Casualty may feel exhausted but restless.
- Casualty may have headache and feel tired, dizzy
and nauseated.
- Muscular cramps in the lower limbs and abdomen,
caused by salt deficiency.
- Casualty's face will be pale and the skin will feel
cold and clammy.
- Breathing becomes fast and shallow.
- Pulse is rapid and weak.
- Temperature remains normal or falls.
- Casualty may faint on any sudden movement.
Treatment
- Lay the casualty down in cold place.
- If the casualty is conscious, give sips of
cold water to drink. If the casualty is sweating profusely, has cramps,
diarrhea and or is vomiting add half a teaspoonful of salt to each ‡
liter of water.
- If the casualty becomes unconscious, but is
breathing normally, Place in the recovery position.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is caused by a
very high environmental temperature or a feverish illness such as malaria,
that leads to a greatly raised body temperature, it develops when the body
can no longer control its temperature by sweating and can occur quite
suddenly. It can develop in people of age who have been exposed to heat
and high humidity for too long and who are unaccustomed to them, or from
prolonged confinement in a hot atmosphere. Anyone suffering from
heatstroke should always receive medical attention.
Symptoms
and Sine's
- Casualty complains of headache, dizziness
and of feeling hot.
- Casualty becomes restless.
- Unconsciousness may develop rapidly and
become very deep.
- Casualty will be hot with a temperature of
40 cƒ ( 104 F ) or more and will look flushed although skin remains
dry.
- Pulse is full and bounding , the breathing
may be noisy.
Aim:-
Reduce the casualty's temperature
as quickly as possible and seek medical aid.
Treatment
- Move the casualty to a cool environment and
remove the casualty's clothing.
- If the casualty is conscious, place in a
half sitting position with the head and shoulders supported. If the
casualty is unconscious but breathing normally, place in the recovery
position.
- Warp the casualty in a cold, wet sheet and
keep it wet, direct current of air on to the casualty by fanning with
magazine, book or an electric fan until the casualty's temperature drops
to 38 cƒ.
- Seek medical aid immediately. If the
casualty's temperature reduces, cover the casualty with a dry sheet and
remove to an air conditioned room if possible. If the casualty's
temperature rises again, repeat steps 3 and 4 above.
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