| 1. |
Causing
injuries to body tissues or skin resulting from heat is generally
called burns & scalds.
Burns: Bodily injuries resulting from dry heat generated by
flames, electric current, hot objects, radiation, over-exposure to
sun rays & chemical corrosives, etc.
Scalds: Bodily injuries caused by hot liquids & steam etc.
Estimating The Burns & Scalds of An Adult Casualty
The area of skin surface burnt or scalded can be estimated by the
'Rule of Nine'. Imagine the body as being 100%, so head and neck as
9%; anterior trunk as 18%; posterior truck as 18%; each upper limb
as 9%; each lower limb as 18%, external genitalia as 1%. (Note: If
the affected area covers only part of the skin areas, it should be
assessed by palm measurement. Each palm covers 1% of the body.)
Estimating the Depth of Burn
| (1)
First Degree Burn: |
Swell,
redness and pain on the epidermis
|
| (2)
Second Degree Burn: |
Blisters
will appear in the burnt area epidermis & dermis is segregated.
The casualty will feel great pain.
|
| (3)
Third Degree burn: |
Skin
will turn charred and dark & destroy deeper layers. There is
already no sense of pain. |
|
| 2. |
Critical
Burns / Scalds
The elderly & infants are more susceptible to burns / scalds than
adults. If an adult has 5% of second degree burns or an infant has
2-3% of second degree burns or any third degree burn and under the
follower circumstances, the casualty should be taken to hospital immediately:
| - |
Inhalation
injuries |
| - |
Burns
associated with a significant fracture or other major injuries |
| - |
Second
or third degree burns involving head, hands, feet & external
genital organs. |
| - |
Large
area of burns |
| - |
Electrical
burns |
Following Burns or Scalds, the body will experience:
| - |
Loss
of body fluid leading to hypovolaemia shock |
| - |
Failure
in body thermal regulation due to damage of body skin |
| - |
Invasion
of bacteria due to deficiency in defence against infection. |
General Treatment
|
| |
(1) |
Remove
the casualty from the heat source.
|
| |
(2) |
Check
the casualty's breathing & pulse.
|
| |
(3) |
Check
the extent & depth of his burns.
|
| |
(4) |
Cool & treat the burned area.
|
| |
|
-
Flush the burned area with water, cool the burned area to alleviate
his pain
- Cover the wound with a sterilized dressing.
- For facial burns, use sheet or triangular bandage to cover the burnt
area. Provide openings on the sheet or triangular bandage for eyes,
nose & mouth for the casualty.
|
| |
(5) |
Treat shock.
|
| |
(6) |
Send the casualty to hospital immediately.
|
| |
Note:
|
| |
(1)
|
Do not puncture blisters
|
| |
(2)
|
Do not apply lotion or ointment to the burnt area.
|
| |
(3)
|
Do not apply cold pack to the burnt area.
|
| |
(4)
|
Do not remove clothing sticking to the skin .
|
| |
(5)
|
Do not cough or speak towards the injured area.
|
| 3. |
Chemical
Burns
When treating burns caused by chemicals, remove all the chemicals
sticking to the casualty's body as soon as possible to avoid deterioration
of injury.
Treatment :
|
| |
(1) |
Put on protective clothing & wear gloves.
|
| |
(2) |
Remove the solid chemicals thoroughly, then rinse the casualty with
a large amount of water; the liquid chemicals can be rinsed by a large
amount of water.
|
| |
(3) |
Remove the contaminated clothing & ornaments from the casualty when
rinsing.
|
| |
(4) |
Dress the wound with bandage after rinsing.
|
| |
(5) |
Send the casualty to hospital.
|
| |
(6) |
If chemical has splashed into the eyes of the casualty, continue to
flush his eyes during transportation to hospital.
|