| Burns, and scalds are common types of | | | | front and back surfaces of the trunk are |
| injuries that a first aid provider will have | | | | eighteen percent each, and each leg is |
| to deal with. Because they result in tissue | | | | fourteen percent.What not to do for a burnAll |
| damage and in come cases destruction they are | | | | burns are easily susceptible to infection and |
| also one of the most painful, and difficult | | | | further injury. In some cases the casualty |
| injuries to heal. However with prompt, proper | | | | may not feel pain (as in 3rd degree burns |
| treatment when the injury happens this trauma | | | | where the nerves have been destroyed). There |
| can be reduced.Types of Burns:Burns can be | | | | are some basic precautions you should follow |
| caused in numerous ways, but they can | | | | with regard to all burns: |
| essentially be grouped into four classes. | | | | |
| | | | Don't breathe, cough, or touch a burn. |
| HeatAs expected this is the most common type | | | | |
| of burn and can be caused by any sufficiently | | | | Don't break any blisters. |
| hot object. Scalds are a type of heat burn | | | | |
| caused by a liquid, steam or conceivably | | | | Don't remove clothing that is stuck. |
| both. For example water at 66 degrees celcius | | | | |
| can burn a childs skin in two | | | | Don't use butter, or oily dressings on a |
| seconds.ChemicalChemical burns are very | | | | burn. The only exception is sunburn lotion on |
| serious, as the chemical continues to burn as | | | | a minor sunburn. |
| long as the chemical is on the skin. Acids, | | | | |
| alkalis, phenols, and phosphorus can cause | | | | Don't cover burns with cotton, wool, or |
| them. Most chemical burns are treated as | | | | adhesive dressings. |
| critical burns. Common items around the house | | | | |
| that can cause chemical burns are oven | | | | Don't cool the casualty too much. When burn |
| cleaner, drain cleaner.ElectricalResult from | | | | is cooled, wrap casualty to prevent shock. |
| contact with an electric current. While heat | | | | |
| is the actual agent that causes the burn, | | | | What to do for a burn |
| electrical burns are normally treated | | | | |
| differently because of the electrical factor. | | | | Inform casualty you are first aid trained, |
| All are treated as critical | | | | and ask if you can assist them.Everybody has |
| burns.RadiationSunburn is likely the most | | | | the right not to be touched by others. When |
| common type of radiation burn that most | | | | you are offering first aid this must be |
| people are familiar with, but other sources | | | | respected. You should always identify |
| can be x-rays, the flash from an arc-welder, | | | | yourself as someone who is first aid trained, |
| and exposure to radioactive material | | | | and then ask if you can help.The casualty can |
| (although this is rare). | | | | say "Yes" or otherwise indicate their |
| | | | consent. They can do nothing, but not prevent |
| The Description of a Burn: Most people have | | | | you from assisting. If there are relations |
| heard of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns, but | | | | present they can also give consent. If it is |
| what does this mean? It simply refers to the | | | | a child, and their parents are not around |
| severity of the burn, and which of the three | | | | then you can proceed. In all these cases you |
| layers of tissue is burned. First-degree | | | | have consent or implied consent to assist.The |
| burns affect only the top layer of skin (the | | | | casualty also has the right to say "No", |
| epidermis). Second-degree burns affect the | | | | which may sound odd, but they may have |
| first, and second layer (the dermis), and | | | | reasons, which you must respect.Cool / Wash |
| third degree affects these plus the third | | | | the burnCool the burn with cool clean water, |
| layer (fatty tissue). Third degree burns are | | | | until pain is reduced. If burn was caused by |
| the most serious.In addition to the above any | | | | a chemical flush entire area with large |
| burn is considered critical if: | | | | amounts of clean water (twenty minutes or |
| | | | more). If chemical is a dry powder brush off |
| it was caused by electricity, and most | | | | any loose chemical before flushing. If eye is |
| chemicals | | | | involved you may have to hold eye open as |
| | | | casualty may not be able to do this.Loosen or |
| it interferes with breathing (burns on face, | | | | remove anything on or around the burned area |
| throat, or through inhalation) | | | | that is tight.This is especially important |
| | | | for rings, jewelry, tight clothing, foot |
| it is accompanied by soft tissue damage or a | | | | wear. Do this as soon as possible before the |
| fracture. | | | | injury swells. But don't remove anything that |
| | | | is stuck.Cover with a clean, lint-free |
| it is located where the skin bends (elbows, | | | | dressing.When the pain has been reduced, |
| knees, etc.) | | | | cover the burned area with a clean dressing. |
| | | | Secure it with tape, but make sure no tape |
| the casualty is under two or over fifty | | | | touches the burned area. If you have access |
| years of age. | | | | to specialized burn dressings then use these |
| | | | according to the package directions.Give |
| the casualty has other medical conditions | | | | on-going careArrange for medical aid, give |
| (diabetes, seizures, mental illness, etc.). | | | | first aid for shock, make the casualty |
| | | | comfortable, and monitor their condition |
| When a person is burned medical personnel | | | | until medical aid arrives or they are |
| will normally also give the percentage of the | | | | delivered to a medical |
| body that was burned. There are two main ways | | | | facility.ConclusionBurns are likely to be one |
| of estimating the area of a burn. The easiest | | | | of the more serious injuries that a first |
| way is to assume that the size of the | | | | aider will encounter. But with proper |
| casualty's palm is equal to one percent of | | | | training and preparations they can be easily |
| their body. In general on an average adult | | | | taken care of, and the patient will |
| this will equate to eighteen percent each for | | | | recover.Howard Gibbins is the owner of Ursa |
| a leg, and the same for either the front or | | | | Major Consulting which specializes in website |
| back surfaces of the trunk. Each arm is worth | | | | design and internet marketing. He runs a |
| nine percent, as is the head and neck | | | | number of different websites including World |
| combined; the remaining one percent is | | | | Wide First Aid which offers a wide assortment |
| allocated to the genitalia.On a child the | | | | of first aid kits, training products, and |
| head and neck combined equal eighteen | | | | reference materials. |
| percent, each arm is again nine percent, the | | | | |