Learn how to provide first aid for a burn

Anyone can get burned. A hot pot, poured boiling water, overturned oil on any part of the body bring severe burns and can threaten a person's life. How to act when a burn occurs with boiling water or oil, what means to take and how to provide first aid for a burn should be known to every person. It is from first aid in the first minutes of getting a burn that further recovery depends. Therefore, you should know exactly the first aid algorithm.

Types of burns and how to determine the extent of damage

Burn refers to the presence of tissue damage due to exposure to high temperatures or chemicals. Burns are divided into these types according to the causes of injury:

• chemical burns due to exposure to acids or alkalis;
• thermal burns are the most common, these are burns that are obtained as a result of exposure to flame or steam, liquid, hot objects;
• electrical burns;
• after being hit by rays (ionizing radiation, light);
• combined type.

There are three types of burns according to the degree of damage:

A 1st degree burn is characterized by a slight redness of the skin, swelling is present.

A 2nd degree burn is characterized by the appearance of blisters in the affected area in addition to redness. Such bubbles can be filled with a yellow liquid. When the bubble bursts, a painful sore is formed, red or bright pink in color.

A 3rd degree burn is characterized by damage to the subcutaneous tissues: ligaments, muscles, possibly bones.

To provide assistance in case of burns, one should clearly distinguish between the degrees of damage and know the algorithm for providing assistance.

First aid for burns

If the person is still in the flame, it is necessary to release him, put on a blanket, cloak, coat. Also protect your head so as not to damage the respiratory tract and prevent smoke inhalation.

The area must be cleared of covering clothing or accessories (rings, watches, belt, all or part of clothing where necessary). If the clothing is stuck, it must not be torn off, it is necessary to easily remove the contact of the tissue with the wound. It is also contraindicated to use oil or ointment to apply on a burn.

In case of a 1st or 2nd degree burn, you can cool the affected area under a stream of cold water, you can use a soapy solution. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes under running cold water.  Before cooling the wound, it can be treated with a solution (hydro-alcoholic) or vodka. Next, you can close the burn with a bandage (cotton-gauze) so as not to infect the infection. The bandage can be treated with an antiseptic solution. So that the bandage does not dry out, you can moisten it with cool water. If a third degree burn is observed, do not treat with cold water, just apply a gauze bandage to neutralize contact with the environment.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken to relieve the pain of a burn. After all the manipulations done, it is worth calling an ambulance.

What is strictly forbidden to do in case of burns:

• do not lubricate burns with ointment, oil or cream, because the resulting film prevents the necessary heat transfer and impairs the regeneration process;
• do not pierce the resulting blisters, so as not to lose the fluid necessary to protect the wound;
• do not touch the burn with your hands, you can spread the infection;
• It is not recommended to abruptly tear off clothing from the affected area;
• Iodine or potassium permanganate should not be used to treat a burn.

When to call an ambulance immediately:

• for 3rd degree burns;
• the affected area has spread to the whole body;
• in case of burns of the respiratory tract, or poisoning;
• if the burn affected the eyes, face, neck, perineum;
• if vomiting occurs after the burn, body temperature rises.