What to do with a burn: how to provide first aid at home. What to do with a burn: how to provide first aid at home Thermal damage to the eyes

The skin consists of the following layers:

• epidermis ( outer part of the skin);
• dermis ( connective tissue of the skin);
• hypodermis ( subcutaneous tissue).

Epidermis

The epidermis consists of the following layers:

• basal layer ( provides the process of reproduction of skin cells);
• spiny layer ( provides mechanical protection against damage);
• granular layer ( protects underlying layers from water penetration);
• shiny layer ( participates in the process of keratinization of cells);
• stratum corneum ( Protects the skin from invasion of pathogenic microorganisms).

Dermis

The dermis is made up of the following layers:

• papillary layer ( includes loops of capillaries and nerve endings);
• mesh layer ( contains vessels, muscles, sweat and sebaceous glands, as well as hair follicles).

Hypodermis

With burns, the following damage to the layers of the skin occurs:

• superficial or complete lesion of the epidermis ( first and second degree);
• superficial or complete lesion of the dermis ( third A and third B degrees);
• damage to all three layers of the skin ( fourth degree).

It should also be noted that with burn lesions, the protective function of the skin is significantly reduced, which can lead to the penetration of microbes and the development of an infectious-inflammatory process.

The circulatory system of the skin is very well developed. The vessels, passing through the subcutaneous fat, reach the dermis, forming a deep cutaneous vascular network at the border. From this network, blood and lymphatic vessels extend upward into the dermis, nourishing the nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands, and hair follicles. Between the papillary and reticular layers, a second superficial cutaneous vascular network is formed.

Burns cause disruption of microcirculation, which can lead to dehydration of the body due to the massive movement of fluid from the intravascular space to the extravascular space. Also, due to tissue damage, liquid begins to flow from small vessels, which subsequently leads to the formation of edema. With extensive burn wounds, the destruction of blood vessels can lead to the development of burn shock.

Causes of burns

• thermal impact;
• chemical impact;
• electrical impact;
• radiation exposure.

thermal effect

• Fire. When exposed to fire, the face and upper respiratory tract are most often affected. With burns of other parts of the body, it is difficult to remove burnt clothing, which can cause the development of an infectious process.
• Boiling water. In this case, the burn area may be small, but deep enough.
• Steam. When exposed to steam, in most cases, shallow tissue damage occurs ( often affects the upper respiratory tract).
• hot items. When the skin is damaged by hot objects, clear boundaries of the object remain at the site of exposure. These burns are quite deep and are characterized by the second - fourth degrees of damage.

• influence temperature ( the higher the temperature, the stronger the damage);
• duration of exposure to the skin the longer the contact time, the more severe the degree of burn);
• thermal conductivity ( the higher it is, the stronger the degree of damage);
• the condition of the skin and health of the victim.

Chemical exposure

Burns due to chemical exposure can occur due to exposure of the skin to the following substances:

• Acids. The effect of acids on the surface of the skin causes shallow lesions. After exposure to the affected area, a burn crust is formed in a short time, which prevents further penetration of acids deep into the skin.
• Caustic alkalis. Due to the influence of caustic alkali on the surface of the skin, its deep damage occurs.
• Salts of some heavy metals ( e.g. silver nitrate, zinc chloride). Damage to the skin with these substances in most cases causes superficial burns.

electrical impact

Electrical injuries are divided into:

• low voltage;
• high voltage;
• supervoltage.

Radiation exposure

• Ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet skin lesions mainly occur in the summer. The burns in this case are shallow, but are characterized by a large area of ​​damage. Exposure to ultraviolet often causes superficial first or second degree burns.
• Ionizing radiation. This effect leads to damage not only to the skin, but also to nearby organs and tissues. Burns in such a case are characterized by a shallow form of damage.
• infrared radiation. May cause damage to the eyes, mainly the retina and cornea, but also to the skin. The degree of damage in this case will depend on the intensity of the radiation, as well as on the duration of exposure.

Degrees of burns

• I degree;
• II degree;
• III-A and III-B degree;
• IV degree.

The depth of damage in case of burns depends on the following factors:

• the nature of the thermal agent;
• temperature of the active agent;
• duration of exposure;
• the degree of warming of the deep layers of the skin.

• Superficial burns. These include first, second, and third-A degree burns. These lesions are characterized by the fact that they are able to heal fully on their own, without surgery, that is, without scarring.
• Deep burns. These include burns of the third-B and fourth degree, which are not capable of full self-healing ( leaves a rough scar).

Burn symptoms

• faces ( in most cases leads to eye damage);
• scalp;
• upper respiratory tract ( there may be pain, loss of voice, shortness of breath, and a cough with a small amount of sputum or streaked with soot);
• upper and lower limbs ( with burns in the joints, there is a risk of dysfunction of the limb);
• torso;
• crotch ( can lead to disruption of the excretory organs).

Burn degree	Symptoms	A photo
I degree	With this degree of burn, redness, swelling and pain are observed. The skin at the site of the lesion is bright pink in color, sensitive to touch and slightly protrudes above the healthy area of ​​​​the skin. Due to the fact that with this degree of burn only superficial damage to the epithelium occurs, the skin after a few days, drying and wrinkling, forms only a small pigmentation, which disappears on its own after a while ( an average of three to four days).
II degree	In the second degree of burns, as well as in the first, hyperemia, swelling, and burning pain are noted at the site of the lesion. However, in this case, due to the detachment of the epidermis, small and loose blisters appear on the surface of the skin, filled with a light yellow, transparent liquid. If the blisters break open, reddish erosion is observed in their place. The healing of this kind of burns occurs independently on the tenth - twelfth day without scarring.
III-A degree	With burns of this degree, the epidermis and partly the dermis are damaged ( hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands are preserved). Tissue necrosis is noted, and also, due to pronounced vascular changes, edema spreads over the entire thickness of the skin. In the third-A degree, a dry, light brown or soft, white-gray burn crust forms. Tactile-pain sensitivity of the skin is preserved or reduced. Bubbles are formed on the affected surface of the skin, the sizes of which vary from two centimeters and above, with a dense wall, filled with a thick yellow jelly-like liquid. Epithelialization of the skin lasts an average of four to six weeks, but when an inflammatory process appears, healing can last for three months.
III-B degree	With burns of the third-B degree, necrosis affects the entire thickness of the epidermis and dermis with partial capture of subcutaneous fat. At this degree, the formation of blisters filled with hemorrhagic fluid is observed ( streaked with blood). The resulting burn crust is dry or wet, yellow, gray or dark brown. There is a sharp decrease or absence of pain. Self-healing of wounds at this degree does not occur.
IV degree	With fourth-degree burns, not only all layers of the skin are affected, but also muscles, fascia and tendons up to the bones. A dark brown or black burn crust forms on the affected surface, through which the venous network is visible. Due to the destruction of nerve endings, there is no pain at this stage. At this stage, there is a pronounced intoxication, there is also a high risk of developing purulent complications.

Burns are divided into extensive ( lesion of 10 - 15% of the skin or more) and not extensive. With extensive and deep burns with superficial skin lesions of more than 15 - 25% and more than 10% with deep lesions, burn disease may occur.

Burn disease is a group of clinical symptoms associated with thermal lesions of the skin and surrounding tissues. Occurs with massive destruction of tissues with the release of a large amount of biologically active substances.

The severity and course of a burn disease depends on the following factors:

• the age of the victim;
• the location of the burn;
• burn degree;
• area of ​​damage.

• burn shock;
• burn toxemia;
• burn septicotoxemia ( burn infection);
• convalescence ( recovery).

burn shock

Degrees of burn shock

Burn toxemia

For intoxication syndrome, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• increase in body temperature ( up to 38 - 41 degrees with deep lesions);
• nausea;
• thirst.

Burn septicotoxemia

For burn septicotoxemia, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• weakness;
• increase in body temperature;
• chills;
• irritability;
• yellowness of the skin and sclera ( with liver damage);
• increased heart rate ( tachycardia).

convalescence

Determining the area of ​​burns

There are the following methods for determining the area of ​​the burn:

• the rule of nines;
• palm rule;
• Postnikov's method.

Rule of nines

Rule of nines	A photo
head and neck 9%
upper limbs (each hand) by 9%
anterior torso18% (chest and abdomen 9% each)
back of the body18% (upper back and lower back 9% each)
lower limbs ( each leg) by 18% (thigh 9%, lower leg and foot 9%)
Perineum 1%

palm rule

Postnikov method

First aid for burns

• elimination of the source of the acting factor;
• cooling of burned areas;
• the imposition of an aseptic bandage;
• anesthesia;
• call an ambulance.

Elimination of the source of the acting factor

Cooling of burned areas

Note: for third and fourth degree burns, this first aid measure is not performed.

Applying an aseptic dressing

Dry and clean handkerchiefs, towels, sheets can be used as an aseptic bandage. An aseptic bandage must be applied to the burn wound without pretreatment. If the fingers or toes have been affected, it is necessary to lay additional tissue between them in order to prevent the parts of the skin from sticking together. To do this, you can use a bandage or a clean handkerchief, which must be wetted with cool water before application, and then squeezed out.

Anesthesia

Call an ambulance

• with burns of the third and fourth degree;
• in the event that a second-degree burn in area exceeds the size of the palm of the victim;
• with first-degree burns, when the affected area is more than ten percent of the body surface ( for example, the entire abdomen or the entire upper limb);
• with the defeat of such parts of the body as the face, neck, joints, hands, feet, or perineum;
• in the event that after a burn there is nausea or vomiting;
• when after a burn there is a long ( more than 12 hours) increase in body temperature;
• when the condition worsens on the second day after the burn ( increased pain or more pronounced redness);
• with numbness of the affected area.

Burn treatment

• conservative;
• operational.

• the area of ​​the lesion;
• the depth of the lesion;
• localization of the lesion;
• the cause of the burn;
• the development of a burn disease in the victim;
• the age of the victim.

Conservative treatment

Conservative burn treatment includes:

• closed method;
• open way.

• applied dressings prevent infection of the burn wound;
• the bandage protects the damaged surface from damage;
• the drugs used kill microbes, and also contribute to the rapid healing of the burn wound.

• changing the bandage provokes pain;
• the dissolution of necrotic tissue under the bandage leads to an increase in intoxication.

open way
This method of treatment is characterized by the use of special techniques ( e.g. ultraviolet irradiation, air cleaner, bacterial filters), which is available only in specialized departments of burn hospitals.

The open method of treatment is aimed at the accelerated formation of a dry burn crust, since a soft and moist scab is a favorable environment for the reproduction of microbes. In this case, two to three times a day, various antiseptic solutions are applied to the damaged skin surface ( e.g. brilliant green ( brilliant green) 1%, potassium permanganate ( potassium permanganate) 5% ), after which the burn wound remains open. In the ward where the victim is located, the air is continuously cleaned of bacteria. These actions contribute to the formation of a dry scab within one to two days.

In this way, in most cases, burns of the face, neck and perineum are treated.

There are the following advantages of the open method of treatment:

• contributes to the rapid formation of a dry scab;
• allows you to observe the dynamics of tissue healing.

• loss of moisture and plasma from a burn wound;
• the high cost of the treatment method used.

Surgical treatment

• necrotomy;
• necrectomy;
• staged necrectomy;
• limb amputation;
• skin transplant.

necrectomy
Necrectomy is performed for third-degree burns in order to remove non-viable tissues with deep and limited lesions. This type of operation allows you to thoroughly clean the burn wound and prevent suppuration processes, which subsequently contributes to the rapid healing of tissues.

Staged necrectomy
This surgical intervention is performed with deep and extensive skin lesions. However, staged necrectomy is a more gentle method of intervention, since the removal of non-viable tissues is performed in several stages.

Amputation of a limb
Amputation of the limb is performed with severe burns, when treatment by other methods has not brought positive results or necrosis has developed, irreversible tissue changes with the need for subsequent amputation.

These methods of surgical intervention allow:

• clean the burn wound;
• reduce intoxication;
• reduce the risk of complications;
• reduce the duration of treatment;
• improve the healing process of damaged tissues.

Skin transplantation
Skin grafting is performed to close large burn wounds. In most cases, autoplasty is performed, that is, the patient's own skin is transplanted from other parts of the body.

Currently, the following methods of closing burn wounds are most widely used:

• Plastic surgery with local tissues. This method is used for deep burn lesions of small size. In this case, there is a borrowing of neighboring healthy tissues to the affected area.
• Free skin plastic. It is one of the most common methods of skin transplantation. This method consists in the fact that using a special tool ( dermatome) in the victim from a healthy part of the body ( e.g. thigh, buttock, abdomen) the necessary skin flap is excised, which is subsequently superimposed on the affected area.

Physiotherapy

• inhibition of the vital activity of microbes;
• stimulation of blood flow in the area of ​​​​impact;
• acceleration of the regeneration process ( recovery) damaged area of ​​the skin;
• prevention of the formation of post-burn scars;
• stimulation of the body's defenses ( immunity).

Burn Prevention

Prevention of sunburn

• Avoid direct contact with the sun between ten and sixteen hours.
• On particularly hot days, it is preferable to wear dark clothing, as it protects the skin from the sun better than white clothes.
• Before going outside, it is recommended to apply sunscreen to exposed skin.
• When sunbathing, the use of sunscreen is a mandatory procedure that must be repeated after each bath.
• Since sunscreens have different protection factors, they must be selected for a specific skin phototype.

• Scandinavian ( first phototype);
• light-skinned European ( second phototype);
• dark-skinned Central European ( third phototype);
• Mediterranean ( fourth phototype);
• Indonesian or Middle Eastern ( fifth phototype);
• African American ( sixth phototype).

Prevention of household burns

To avoid burns at home, the following recommendations must be followed:

• Do not use electrical appliances with damaged insulation.
• When unplugging the appliance from the socket, do not pull the cord, it is necessary to hold the plug base directly.
• If you are not a professional electrician, do not repair electrical appliances and wiring yourself.
• Do not use electrical appliances in a damp room.
• Children should not be left unattended.
• Make sure there are no hot objects in the children's reach ( for example, hot food or liquids, sockets, iron on, etc.).
• Items that can cause burns ( e.g. matches, hot objects, chemicals and other) should be kept away from children.
• It is necessary to conduct awareness-raising activities with older children regarding their safety.
• Smoking should be avoided in bed as it is one of the common causes of fires.
• It is recommended to install fire alarms throughout the house or at least in places where the likelihood of a fire is higher ( e.g. in a kitchen, a room with a fireplace).
• It is recommended to have a fire extinguisher in the house.

A burn is a type of injury that was caused by the action of high temperatures or other factors on parts of the human body.

The most common cause is careless handling of hot objects, boiling liquids or fire. The vast majority of burns are of a domestic nature. However, there are many other phenomena due to which a person's skin can be damaged by a burn.

In medicine, it is customary to divide the degree of damage into four levels:

• The first degree is accompanied by redness on the surface of the skin. The patient feels pain. Edema (hyperemia) is visible on the surface of the body. The skin bakes a little for several days, but after 2-3 days the symptoms disappear. This degree of burn is not dangerous to life and health.
• The second degree is characterized by the appearance of characteristic blisters. They have a significant volume and are filled with liquid. The epidermis exfoliates a little, this is the cause of the blisters. When giving first aid, it is imperative to apply a bandage, otherwise the blisters may open, creating an open wound.
• In the third degree, the thickness of the skin dies. Injury in this case affects the papillary layer of the skin, and not just the epidermis. Damaged almost all the skin, all its main layers. The blisters are yellowish in color due to the liquid inside, and the sensitivity is greatly reduced, since the nervous tissue is damaged to the same extent.
• The fourth degree is charring. In this case, not only the skin layers die, the damage affects the connective tissue and subcutaneous tissue. Not only muscles can suffer, but in especially severe cases, even bones.

Most often, first-degree burns occur after sun exposure. There is also a radiation effect, and thermal. In the kitchen with boiling water or hot objects, people are often burned to the second degree. After that, blisters can be observed. They will testify to the strength of the burn, since blisters are possible only when the epidermis exfoliates, that is, the skin layer no longer performs its functions. More severe damage occurs during fires or various accidents. And if with a mild degree, when the skin is only swollen and reddened, you can do without help, then in other cases the victim definitely needs immediate treatment.

First aid for burns is just as important as subsequent proper treatment. It consists of several stages, and aims to protect the damaged area from external influences. What to do with a burn? First you need to determine which species it belongs to due to its appearance. Burns are as follows:

• Thermal burn occurs when exposed to too high temperatures;
• Electric comes from exposure to electric current;
• Radiation from radiation;
• Chemical happens from the action of strong acids and toxic substances;
• A combined burn combines several types.

A burn causes damage to the skin, which leads to its destruction. This is most often a superficial effect. Not only the type of exposure affects the result of damage, but also the period of time during which the body was exposed to harmful effects. The longer the period, the greater the damage that has been done. It is from this factor that the degree of damage depends.

The provision of first aid for burns includes an assessment by a specialist about its significance. The doctor during the examination draws conclusions on the area of ​​the skin, which has moved to the harmful effects. The larger it is, the more difficult the treatment. In some cases, the necessity of donor skin transplantation becomes obvious. After the operation, it will be different in shade. The specialist also pays attention to the depth at which the burn damaged the skin. One arm contains 9% of the skin of the entire body.

What to do before the arrival of the doctor?

First aid for burns is necessary even before the arrival of a specialist. Sterility is what distinguishes burns from other types of injury. With a thermal burn, the lesion site is absolutely clean from microorganisms, but this sterility must be maintained by proper dressing. That is, in the first minutes of the burn, there is no need to disinfect the wound. More precisely, this cannot be done, since the skin is already damaged and irritated.

In the first minutes after the burn, it is desirable to create cooling. To do this, it is recommended to turn on cold running water. It will not create additional mechanical damage, will not put pressure on the skin. However, it will perfectly wash the dust from the surface. Cooled skin cells will fall into a special state called suspended animation.

Exposure to high temperatures on the skin is called a thermal burn. This type of damage is the most common, and can occur both at work and at home. People deal with hot objects all the time. These are irons, and curling irons, and stoves, and speakers, and various heaters. Even a small decorative candle can bring trouble, from a slight reddening of a finger to a fire. It is very important to follow basic safety rules when handling hot objects and liquids.

First aid for thermal burns must necessarily include cooling. After a few minutes, the burned skin shows signs of inflammation. In addition, the victim experiences piercing pain. Cooling weakens it. A burn wound is very vulnerable to infection. Therefore, it is highly undesirable to use folk remedies, which, on the contrary, can carry it. So there is an opinion that it is necessary to attach raw potatoes to the sore spot. Apparently the recipe originally came from an attempt to cool a wound in the field, but needless to say, how much infection this can bring. According to another recipe, it is necessary to wash the burned area with a solution of manganese. Experts do not recommend this either, since such a remedy can add a chemical to a thermal burn.

Most often there are burns of varying degrees with hot water. People in everyday life drink hot drinks every day, eat food cooked with the help of stoves. Regardless of whether the food was cooked on gas or in a microwave device, the final product can be equally hot. What to do with a burn with boiling water depends on its degree. Fortunately, most of these injuries do not require hospitalization. However, the rules of first aid must be followed without fail even at home.

Be sure to first of all it is recommended to hold the burnt place under running cold water. The procedure must be carried out until the pain subsides. If, when taken out of the water, the pain returns quickly again, then it will be right to cool down in water again. Otherwise, the victim will not only experience severe pain, but also increase the onset of inflammation.

In no case should you lubricate the burnt area with oil. There should be no fat until the wound begins to heal. At the first moment, any substance during processing other than cold water will be superfluous. The same rule applies to brilliant green and all disinfectant alcohol tinctures. They will only in vain burn an additionally affected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe body, cause more irritation.

When the pain has already subsided, but the skin remains reddened, you can lubricate first-degree burns with alcohol tinctures or disinfectant ointments. But this cannot be done at the first moment. For minor burns, a dressing is not required. It is enough to treat the place with means that will promote healing. You can ask them at the pharmacy, they are sold without a prescription.

Chemical burn and first steps

First aid for chemical burns includes a series of actions that must be performed in a certain sequence:

• An assessment of the situation obliges to determine where the toxic substances are located, what they are.
• Based on the information received, it is necessary to draw conclusions and make an optimal decision on further actions.
• It is very important at the time of assistance that the person who provides it is dressed in latex gloves. This is necessary so that he also does not get hurt.
• It is necessary to determine whether the victim is conscious or in a state of fainting. If he cannot be awakened, then an ambulance should be called immediately.

• Before the arrival of professional medical assistance, it is necessary to monitor the patient's condition, check how he feels, help him take a more comfortable position.
• If possible, the site of the lesion must be cleaned of the toxic substance. So liquid water-soluble substances must be washed off with water. If the toxic substance has the consistency of a powder, then it must first be shaken off, blown off, and only then washed. These recommendations are not suitable for quicklime. You just need to shake it off, but do not allow water to enter.
• If an acid burn occurs, then it is necessary to wash the affected area with a solution of baking soda. This will change the acidity on the surface of the wound and partially neutralize the toxic substance, but will not cause additional harm, since the alkalinity of the soda solution is low.
• If there was a defeat with alkali, then, on the contrary, acid will help. But the solution should not be too strong, because citric acid or vinegar must be diluted quite a bit.
• If the victim is very ill, then you can give him analgin before the doctor arrives. Its preparations have rare individual indications, and in the absence of such, the remedy will alleviate the patient's condition. This is a general first aid for burns, if they are significant.

Burns are tissue damage caused by thermal, chemical, electrical or radiation exposure. This is a severe physical and psychological trauma. A person who has received burns is classified as seriously ill. Burns can be caused by exposure to high temperatures, chemicals, electric current, ionizing and ultraviolet radiation.

Depending on the severity of the lesion, four degrees of burns are distinguished:

1. I degree - redness, damage to the surface layer of the skin occurs. There is redness, swelling, burning and pain.
2. II degree - blisters with transparent or cloudy contents appear on the skin, tissues and blood vessels are damaged, biological fluids accumulate under the skin and cells of connective tissue and blood vessels develop (exudate occurs).
3. III degree - tissue death.
4. IV degree - charring, occurs when the skin and tissues, and sometimes bones, are exposed to very high temperatures.

A burn, like no other injury, causes a person to experience severe pain and leaves many wounds on his body. As a result of a burn, the protective layer of the skin is destroyed, which contributes to the unhindered penetration of pathogens into the body. In addition, damaged skin is not able to participate in metabolic processes. Fire victims almost always develop life-threatening shock due to loss of blood and fluids, as well as severe pain.

When providing first aid, use only dressings that are specifically designed for burns. These dressings are made from fabric that does not stick to the wound. If there is no such dressing material at hand, then it is better not to bandage the affected area at all. Do not remove any items of clothing that have adhered to the affected skin of the victim. When providing first aid in case of scalds, slightly different actions are taken. First of all, it is necessary to remove clothing soaked in hot liquid from the victim as soon as possible. Otherwise, the clothing will continue to damage the skin, resulting in an even worse burn.

Causes of burns

The most common causes of burns are:

• open fire,
• electricity,
• irradiation,
• flammable substances
• hot steam, water and gas,
• hot (hot) things.

Rule of nines

The area of ​​the burn surface is determined by the so-called rule of nines, according to which the entire surface area of ​​the body is divided into anatomical regions (each of them is 9% of the total body area or a multiple of):

• Head and neck = 9%.
• Torso = 36%.
• 9% hands = 18%.
• Legs at 18% = 36%.
• Perineum and genitals = 1%. In children, these criteria depend on age.

The most dangerous complications of a burn are shock, toxemia (blood poisoning with toxins of bacteria that multiply in an infectious focus), blood poisoning and a significant decrease in the body's resistance to infectious diseases. However, the severity of the burn condition is determined not only by the depth, but also by the extent of the injury.

Specificity of treatment

First-degree burns usually do not require medical attention. For burn wounds of the second degree, a doctor should be consulted if the area of ​​the burnt area is larger than the palm of your hand. You should also consult a doctor when the burnt area of ​​the skin hurts, even if it is small, or especially sensitive places are affected, for example, palms, feet. For a third or fourth degree burn, you need to see a doctor, as only he can reduce pain, properly treat the wound and protect against infection.

First of all, the doctor will thoroughly wash open wounds and remove dead tissue. The doctor will then apply a sterile dressing. For extensive burns, treatment is carried out in the departments of specialized clinics or hospitals. As a rule, so that significantly burned patients would not feel severe pain, they are given drugs that artificially induce sleep. Dead tissue is gradually removed, wound healing and skin restoration are monitored. Most often, skin grafting operations are performed, or the wounds are covered with synthetic leather substitutes, which should stimulate the restoration of the skin and prevent pathogens from penetrating through the wounds.

In case of minor burns, it is recommended that the affected part of the body be placed in cold water as soon as possible or overlaid with pieces of ice - this is how the deep layers of tissues are protected from damage.

In both adults and children, the area of ​​the burn surface can be determined using the palm of your hand. The area of ​​the palm of a person is approximately 1% of the surface of his body. With a burn of more than 15%. surface of the body for human life there is a real threat.

Flour, butter or vegetable oil and other similar remedies are absolutely unsuitable for the treatment of burns. When providing first aid for burns, it is recommended to use only cold water or pieces of ice, and then only in the absence of open wounds and minor skin lesions.

First aid

• Put out the fire by throwing on a blanket or piece of clothing. Attention! Do not use clothes or blankets made of synthetic materials. Be careful not to burn your hands or face.
• If you smell gas or other toxic substance, you must remove the victim from the room as soon as possible and monitor his breathing. If the person is scalded, immediately remove clothing from the affected area of ​​the body.
• In case of burns of the extremities, the skin must be cooled under a stream of cold water.
• If a large area of ​​the skin is affected, then in this case, not water is used for cooling, but wet scarves intended for dressing burn wounds. Cooling has a calming effect on tissues, relieves pain, and prevents the spread of lesions.

How to apply a bandage?

Special kerchiefs intended for dressing burn wounds should not be pressed too tightly against the affected areas - they can stick and it will be difficult to remove them. The bandage only needs to be fixed so that it does not fall when transporting the victim or changing the position of his body. The surface area of ​​the skin in a newborn is 0.25 square meters, in an adult - 1.8 square meters. In the middle layer of the skin there is a large number of nerve endings, so a second-degree burn is characterized by severe pain. Only with a properly applied bandage can the pain subside.

Shock often occurs with burns and scalding. Complications almost always occur with severe tissue damage. Therefore, when providing first aid, it is necessary to control the vital functions of the victim.

Facial burns

When providing first aid to a person with a facial burn, it must be remembered that his airways may be damaged. In such cases, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract swells, which can lead to suffocation.

• For burns of the face, oral cavity and pharynx, do not apply bandages.
• If the victim is conscious, then he should rinse his mouth with cold water.
• Bandages (kerchiefs) are used for cooling.
• It is necessary to tell the patient to breathe calmly and deeply and call an ambulance.

When a person's clothes catch fire, panic often seizes, he begins to rush about. The rescuer must stop the person, because when moving, the flame receives even more oxygen, and the fire ignites with renewed vigor.

When giving first aid, be careful to avoid burns yourself. Seeing a person engulfed in flames, do not panic. Better look for a blanket or clothing to put out the flames.

In our life, cases of burns are not uncommon. This article will focus on burns, assistance to victims, types of burns. Often people cannot quickly find their bearings in emergency situations and provide the necessary first aid to the victims. In order to avoid the consequences associated with untimely assistance, you should learn the basics of this simple skill.

Providing first aid for burns

There are burns of varying degrees and different types, respectively, first aid will also vary. Types of burns are divided into the following subgroups:

1. Thermal. Occur as a result of exposure to the skin or mucous membrane of hot objects, open flames, liquids, gases.
2. Chemical. Occur due to tissue damage by various chemical constituents.
3. Electrical. Appear upon contact with an electric current source. Characteristic features are a small grayish or brown current entry point, redness around the damaged area, and charring in severe burns.

In case of burns of any type, it is urgent to eliminate the damaging factor.

The severity of burns is divided into the following types:

1. For first-degree burns, injuries of the upper layer of the cover are characteristic; redness, pain, swelling of tissues can serve as concomitant symptoms.
2. The second degree is characterized by deeper soft tissue damage with the above symptoms and is complemented by the formation of watery vesicles.
3. The third degree is characterized by a violation of the integrity of the fatty tissue of the mucosa or skin, bubbles with turbid liquid and blood appear on the surface of the tissues, the sensitivity around the affected area may decrease, the risk of opening a wound due to bursting bubbles with liquid.
4. The fourth degree is characterized by damage to all tissues, charring occurs.

First aid for a burn is the following activities

When clothing ignites, it is urgent to block the flow of oxygen to the source of ignition, that is, extinguish the flame with water, cover it with earth, cover with a blanket or other available means, while the head of the victim must be open for oxygen to enter the respiratory tract.

If tissues are damaged by boiling water, hot polymer materials, it is urgent to cool the skin surface in cold water, avoid contact with ice or other cold objects that can cause injury to the burnt area.

If you receive a chemical burn, rinse the damaged area with water for 15 minutes, but remember that some chemical compounds may heat up or ignite when in contact with water. A chemical burn caused by an acid is neutralized with an alkali, you can use a soap, soda solution or ash. In case of a chemical burn with alkali, a weak acetic solution should be used.

It should not be forgotten that with large serious burns, cold water should be avoided to prevent hypothermia of the body.

In case of burns, it is forbidden to independently remove items of clothing from the affected area, it is only permissible to carefully cut off the clothing around the wound, and apply a sterile bandage to the wound itself, you can use a clean handkerchief or a piece of cotton fabric. In order to avoid the spread of infection, it is forbidden to violate the integrity of watery formations, the independent use of various ointments or oils, the use of alcohol or other lotions is excluded.

For an electrical burn, cover the affected area with a clean bandage and wait for the ambulance to arrive.

In most cases, the list of professional medical care provided by doctors often includes a tetanus shot, since the body of victims of burns is often susceptible to this disease.

Treatment of burns at home is permissible only for sunburn.
The main types of treatment are washing with cool water, the use of medicated ointments and remedies for sunburn and after-sun creams, it is acceptable to take painkillers and antipyretics if necessary.

After sunburn, new skin is very sensitive to various influences, direct sunlight and hypothermia should be avoided in order to avoid the formation of new injuries.

Your lifestyle also plays a big role. Smoking cessation during the rehabilitation period is mandatory, as under the influence of bad habits, tissue regeneration slows down. The decisive factor in the further treatment and elimination of the consequences of injuries is the correct and timely provision of first aid.