First aid for burns
A burn is a tissue injury caused by heat, chemicals, sunlight, and even some plants. “Komsomolskaya Pravda” tells what first aid should be provided for various burns

There are the following degrees of burns:

  • I degree – redness of the skin, accompanied by burning and pain;
  • II degree – the formation of blisters with fluid. The blisters can sometimes burst and fluid leak out;
  • III degree – protein coagulation with tissue damage and necrosis of the skin;
  • IV degree – deeper damage to tissues – skin, subcutaneous fat, muscles, and bones up to charring.

The severity of the burn also directly depends on the area of ​​damage to the skin and tissues. A burn always causes severe pain, and in the most severe cases, the victim experiences shock. The burn can be aggravated by the addition of an infection, the penetration of toxins into the blood, metabolic disorders, and many other pathological processes.

Burning with boiling water or steam

Such everyday situations as a burn with boiling water or steam, met, probably, with everyone. Fortunately, with such burns, the consequences are not so deplorable, and usually the severity of the lesion does not exceed I or II degree burns. However, in these cases, you need to know how to provide first aid, and what not to do.

What can you do

  • It is necessary to immediately eliminate the damaging factor (boiling water or steam).
  • Cool the affected area with cold running water2.
  • Close with dry clean bandage2;
  • Provide peace.

What not to do

  • Do not apply ointments, creams, oils, sour cream, etc. This may encourage infection.
  • Tear off sticky clothing (for severe burns)2.
  • Pierce bubbles.
  • Apply ice, snow.

Chemical burn

Chemical burns often occur both at home and at work when exposed to certain chemicals that can damage tissue. Such substances include acetic acid, some cleaners containing caustic alkalis, or undiluted hydrogen peroxide.

What can you do

  • Place the affected area of ​​skin under running cold water and rinse for 30 minutes.
  • Chemicals must be neutralized. In case of an acid burn, the affected area should be washed with soda solution or soapy water. In case of alkali burns, it is better to wash the affected area with a solution of citric acid (half a teaspoon of powder in a glass of water) or dilute acetic acid.

    Quicklime cannot be washed off with water, so it must first be removed with a clean, dry cloth. After that, the burn site is washed with cool running water and treated with any vegetable oil.

  • After neutralization, make a bandage with a sterile bandage or cloth.

What not to do

  • Chemicals penetrate deep into the skin, and even after they are removed, they can continue to act, so it is better not to touch the affected area so as not to increase the burn area.
  • Do not apply compresses.

Sunburn

Sunburn is most relevant during the summer vacation period, when, going to the sea, we often do not take care of ourselves and get a sunburn instead of a beautiful tan.

What can you do

First aid can be provided independently, since sunburns are not severe, and according to the degree of damage they are classified as I or II degree.

  • It is necessary to immediately leave the sun in a cool place, for example, in the shade.
  • Apply a wet cold bandage to the affected areas to cool and relieve burning and pain.
  • You can take a cold shower or soak in cool water.
  • If you experience headache, dizziness, nausea, you should immediately consult a doctor. These symptoms may indicate the development of heat stroke.

What not to do

  • Do not treat the skin with ice cubes. Do not wash damaged skin with soap, rub with a washcloth or clean with scrubs. This will increase the inflammatory response.
  • Do not apply alcohol or alcohol solutions to damaged areas. Alcohol contributes to additional dehydration of the skin.
  • Do not treat the skin with petroleum jelly or various fats. These products clog pores and prevent skin from breathing.2.
  • During the entire recovery period, you should not sunbathe and stay in direct sunlight (only in closed clothes). Do not take alcoholic beverages, coffee and strong tea. Drinking these drinks can contribute to dehydration.

Hogweed burn

Hogweed is a very common plant in the middle latitudes. The inflorescence of these plants resembles dill, and the leaves resemble burdock or thistle. Sosnovsky’s hogweed is especially famous for its poisonous properties, named after the scientist who discovered it. It is distinguished by its gigantic size and during the flowering period in July-August it can reach 5-6 m in height. Hogweed secretes a special phototoxic juice, which, when it comes into contact with the skin and under the influence of sunlight, becomes very poisonous. Even one drop of hogweed can cause skin burns if it is in the sun.

Symptoms of a hogweed burn are manifested in the form of redness, itching and burning of the skin. And if you do not wash your skin on time and at the same time be in the sun, you can get a severe burn. At the site of redness, blisters with liquid later appear.

What can you do

  • First of all, it is necessary to wash off the hogweed juice with soap and water and protect the affected area from the sun’s rays with clothing.
  • After that, it is better to seek medical help. The doctor may prescribe various creams and ointments, for example, dexpanthenol ointment or Rescuer balm. A visit to the doctor is required in case of damage to large areas of the skin, severe allergic reactions, headache, fever.

What not to do

  • You can not expose the affected area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe skin to sunlight for another few days.
  • You can not lubricate and rub anything into the affected area of ​​​​the skin.

Sting

Nettle is a very useful, vitamin-rich and unpretentious plant. This weed is very widespread in Russia and occurs in two types: stinging nettle and stinging nettle. However, this useful plant has the flip side of the coin – its leaves are covered with burning hairs, which cause a “burn” when in contact with the skin. This happens because the stinging nettle hairs contain formic acid, histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine – substances that cause local allergic dermatitis. At the site of contact with the skin, a rash, burning and itching appear, which persist for up to 24 hours. The skin around the hives becomes red and hot.

The consequences of contact with nettle pass on their own and without consequences, but there are cases of a severe allergic reaction. Allergy symptoms in this case are manifested in the form of shortness of breath, swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, rash all over the body, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea. In these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor.

For most people, nettle burn does not cause serious consequences, other than discomfort, which can be reduced in some ways.

What can you do

  • Wash the contact area with cold water and soap (it is advisable to do this after 10 minutes, since dried substances are easier to remove);
  • Using a patch, remove the remaining nettle needles from the skin;
  • Lubricate the skin with a soothing agent (for example, aloe gel or any antihistamine ointment);
  • In case of a severe allergic reaction, take an antihistamine inside.

What not to do

  • You can not touch the place of the “burn” or rub it (this will cause a stronger reaction);
  • Do not touch other parts of the body, face or eyes with the affected hand.

Electrical burn

Electric shock is one of the most dangerous and severe injuries. Even if a person is still alive, burns can remain from exposure to electric current. It is important to remember that even household voltage of 220 volts is deadly. The consequences of such injuries are delayed and may occur within the next 15 days. In case of electric shock (even if the outcome is favorable), you should consult a doctor. In this article, we will consider only the consequences of an electric shock burn.

When exposed to current, electrical energy is converted into heat, and the burn is thermal in nature. The strength of the damage will depend on the roughness of the skin, their moisture content and thickness. Such burns have clearly defined boundaries and a more pronounced depth of injury. After the effect of electric current has ceased and all first aid measures have been completed, it is necessary to treat the burn.

What can you do

  • Cool the affected area with running water for 15-20 minutes. It is advisable not to pour water on the affected area, but only on healthy tissues;
  • Cover the wound with a clean, dry cloth or bandage;
  • Give the victim an anesthetic if necessary;
  • Seek immediate medical attention.

What not to do

  • Do not use snow and ice for cooling;
  • It is impossible to open burn blisters, remove foreign objects or pieces of clothing from the wound;
  • You can not use iodine and brilliant green;
  • The victim must not be left unattended.

Popular questions and answers

We discussed with our expert − dermatologist of the highest category Nikita Gribanov the most popular questions about burns and their treatment3.

What can anoint the burn?

– In the event of a burn, apply a sterile or clean dressing and seek immediate medical attention. Only minor superficial burns (not related to electrical injury) can be treated on their own.

Today, pharmaceutical companies produce a large number of burn products: ointments, sprays, foams and gels. First of all, it is worth cooling the affected surface under running cold water, and after that apply anti-burn agents. It can be sprays (Panthenol, Olazol3), ointments (Stellanin or Baneocin or Methyluracil3), gels (Emalan, Lioxazin) or even the elementary “Rescuer”.

What to do if you burn your tongue or throat?

– If it is a burn from hot tea or food, rinse your mouth with cold water, suck on an ice cube or use ice cream. You can rinse your mouth with a cool salt solution (⅓ teaspoon of salt in a glass of water). Raw egg white, milk and vegetable oil, antiseptic solutions will help with a chemical burn of the pharynx. If the esophagus or stomach is affected, large amounts of liquid should be taken and a doctor should be consulted immediately.

In what case it is possible to open burn blisters?

– It is better not to open burn blisters. A small bubble will resolve on its own in a few days. It is necessary to use antiseptic ointments or solutions to treat the affected area. If the bubble is large enough and located in an inconvenient place, there is a chance that it will open on its own at the most inopportune moment. In this case, opening the bubble is logical. It is better to entrust this manipulation to a doctor.

If this is not possible, rinse the burn surface, treat it with an antiseptic solution and gently pierce the bladder with a sterile needle. Allow time for the liquid to flow out on its own. After that, it is necessary to treat the bubble with an antibiotic ointment and apply a bandage. If the fluid inside the bubble is cloudy or has blood impurities, you should not touch such a bubble. In this case, consult a doctor.

When should you see a doctor for a burn?

– A minor superficial burn can be treated on its own. If a burn of II-III degree, or I-II degree, but having a large area, there are violations of the integrity of the skin on the affected area, and the victim has a violation of consciousness or signs of intoxication – all these are reasons for immediate medical attention. In addition, a specialist should be contacted if there are foreign bodies (dirt, pieces of clothing, combustion products) on the affected area, cloudy liquid or blood impurities are visible in the burn blisters.

Seeking a doctor is also necessary for any burn associated with electric shock, damage to the eyes, esophagus, stomach. With any burn, it is better to play it safe than to miss the complication.

Sources of:

  1. “Clinical Guidelines. Thermal and chemical burns. Sun burns. Burns of the respiratory tract “(approved by the Ministry of Health of Russia) https://legalacts.ru/doc/klinicheskie-rekomendatsii-ozhogi-termicheskie-i-khimicheskie-ozhogi-solnechnye-ozhogi/
  2. Burns: (Guide for Physicians) / B.S. Vikhriev, V.M. Burmistrov, V.M. Pinchuk and others. L.: Medicine. Leningrad. department, 1981. https://djvu.online/file/s40Al3A4s55N6
  3. Register of medicines of Russia. https://www.rlsnet.ru/

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