We often mistake them for sunburn and use methods that work for them. This is a mistake that can result in great pain and deterioration of the skin condition. Thermal burns can happen all year round, but in summer, when we spend a lot of time outdoors, we are even more exposed to them. What to do and what to do when you get burned with hot oil, hot grill, boiling water or fire? We explain below.
- Thermal burns are caused by skin contact with very high temperatures. They require immediate emergency action
- One of the most common mistakes is to grease the burned area with butter or yogurt. These substances hold back the temperature that should be discharged
- In emergency situations, instead of water (if we do not have access to it), the wound can be sprinkled with another drink, but the injury should be secured beforehand to prevent bacterial contamination.
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
What are thermal burns?
Thermal burns are burns caused by skin contact with very high temperatures, e.g. with boiling water, steam, fire, iron or a hot substance such as milk or oil. Like other types of burns (solar, radiation, chemical or electrical), they cause injuries of varying severity, rated on a three- or four-point scale.
A first degree burn is a superficial burn involving only the epidermis and usually leaving no trace (after the wound has healed). A XNUMXnd degree burn reaches the dermis, creates wounds and blisters, but with proper response and care of the injury, there is a chance that a scar will not be left (it also depends on how extensive the burn was).
As for a third degree burn, it affects the entire dermis and sometimes deeper structures. A burn like this may not even hurt because the nerves responsible for feeling pain are damaged. It happens that tissue necrosis also occurs (XNUMXth degree burn).
The rest of the text below the video.
Errors in dealing with thermal burns
Each type of burn has a different procedure. On the level of our “everyday” experiences, this is best seen in the case of sunburn and thermal burns. The former are formed for hours, the latter – immediately after contact with high temperature. In both cases, it is recommended to pour water over the wound, but in the case of sunburn it is a short-term and only analgesic effect, while in the case of thermal burns – it is a rescue procedure that should be spent time.
Skin exposed to very high temperature should be cooled locally for at least 20 minutes. If the burn is extensive and affects larger areas of the body, we must be careful not to cool the body. Some time ago there was a famous case of a burned girl whom her grandmother – in good faith – had put in a bathtub with cold water. Unfortunately, the child stayed there for too long. When the paramedics arrived, it turned out that the core temperature of her body was only 30 degrees Celsius. The girl developed hypothermia. Therefore, such cooling down of the body should take several minutes.
If we do not have water at hand, because we are, for example, outdoors, we can pour another liquid on the burned area, for example lemonade or beer, but it is very important to first protect the injured place (e.g. with cling film, stretch). Thanks to this, bacteria or even sugar will not get into the wound, which helps them to multiply.
It is also very important not to take off the clothes that have been caught in fire or flooded with hot oil.. The material sticks to the skin and when we try to remove it, we can tear it off together with the damaged skin. A much better idea is to cool down the body (along with clothing), and in the case of fire, put it out first.
One of the most common mistakes made in the event of thermal burns is applying various home-made products to them, such as butter, yogurt or grated potatoes. These methods work well in the case of sunburn, when we want to bring relief, but when we get burned with e.g. boiling water, not only will they not work, but also bring about the opposite effect to the intended one. The body temperature at the site of the injury will be stopped and the substance will block its discharge.
What about a thermal burn?
So how do you deal with a burned place? First of all, cool them and then dress them. If the wound is superficial and we can deal with it ourselves (injuries do not require medical intervention), a hydrogel dressing with analgesic and antiseptic substances will be the best. The latter action is very important because in the event of thermal burns, bacterial superinfections may occur.
Later, you can reach for a hydrocolloid dressing, the matrix of which is placed on a load-bearing polyurethane film, ensuring adequate air circulation. Thanks to this, water vapor is removed from the surface of the skin, which provides the right conditions conducive to faster healing. You can find this dressing at Medonet Market. A silicone dressing will also work as it allows you to control wound exudate. You can find both of them in the Medonet Market.
Thermal burns are very painful, so it will also be a good idea to use painkillers, although taking them should be consulted with a doctor beforehand. In the case of XNUMXst and XNUMXnd degree burns, ointments are also used, which contain substances that regenerate the skin and relieve discomfort associated with pain.
It is worth remembering that in the case of extensive thermal burns, injuries of particularly sensitive parts of the body (eyes, mouth and respiratory tract, perineum, hands and feet), as well as in the case of injuries to children or any doubts as to the rescue procedure, call for help, by calling 112.
We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time Kamila Wykrota, the resilience trainer, will tell us about what resilience is. How does the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and react to adversities affect our quality of life? You will find out by listening to the latest episode of our podcast.