Burns - ONLINE FIRST AID - COURSES AND TRAINING

Lesson no. 18

Burns

Causes: High/low temperature, radiation, electricity, chemicals.

Exposure to any of these elements destroys the proteins in the skin which allows fluid to escape from the cells.

Skin is extremely important in the process of maintaining body heat and preventing the entry of pollutants, extensive burns put us at risk for infection and hypothermia.

Burn Degrees (classification)

First Degree

Superficial burn. Damage to the upper skin layer only (epidermis).
Signs: red and hot skin, slight pain, sensitivity to touch.
Treatment: lukewarm water rinse.

Second Degree

Damage to deeper skin layers (epidermis and dermis).
Signs: First degree + blisters.
Treatment: Same as first degree, blisters should not be punctured.

Third Degree

Complete damage to the skin’s layers and deeper layers (epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous).
Signs: No local pain, charred smell, black and peeled skin.
Treatment: Wash with sterile fluid, sterile dressing, immediate evacuation to a hospital.
Hazards: fluid loss, infection, tissue destruction, hypothermia, scabs that will result in the formation of a natural tourniquet, difficulty breathing. In the case of chest burns, respiratory blisters may form.

Type of burn	The layer of skin affected	Signs	Healing process
1^st degree	Epidermis	Swelling, redness, pain	Two-three days
2^nd degree	Epidermis-dermis	Swelling, redness, blisters, pain	Two-three weeks
3^rd degree	Epidermis-dermis-subcutaneous	Swelling, redness, blisters, extreme pain, necrosis, scabbing, scarring	Very long, sometimes requires skin grafting

Treatment

Do not rub the area to warm it.
With severe burns, the injured person should be quickly rushed to the hospital.
Before approaching someone who was electrocuted, make sure the circuit breaker is switched off.
The limb should only be heated by indirect means (air conditioner, clothing, blankets) and not by direct means (hot water, oven).
Clothing and jewelry should be removed (for fear of swelling of the body to create a natural tourniquet) only if they haven’t adhered to the skin.
Neck/face/chest burns should make you cautious of burns in the respiratory tract.

Calculation of Burn Area (1/9th method) in an Adult Victim

Head: 9%	Abdomen: 9%	The whole thigh: 9%
Each hand: 9%	Lower back: 9%	Entirety of shin and foot: 9%
Chest: 9%	Upper back: 9%	Sex organ: 1%

Frostbite – “Cold Burns”

Damage to the skin tissue due to exposure to extreme cold. Usually, it affects areas of the body that are distant from the heart and are exposed, such as the extremities and face. These burns range from superficial to deep.

Cold burns can cause irreparable damage to the body! They should not be underestimated, and the injured person should be taken to the hospital immediately.

Signs

Cold.
Localized, intense pain.
Tingling in the area.
The injured area is pale. Can then turn dark and develop blisters.

Note

Do not rub the area to warm it.
Do not heat by direct means (hot water/stove) but only by indirect means (air conditioner, clothes, blankets).

44-Hour Course