A chemical burn is the destruction of tissues due to contact with a chemical agent - acid, alkali, kerosene, gasoline, phosphorus, bitumen, volatile oils, etc. Most often, the chemical burn is exposed to the surface of the limbs, trunk, less often - the face, eyes, mouth cavity, esophagus.
Types of chemical burns
By type of chemical agent distinguish:
- acid burns (sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric, hydrofluoric and other acids);
- alkaline burns (potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, etc.);
- fluoride burns (hydrofluoric acid);
- phenolic;
- phosphoric and others.
The first pre-medical and medical care for chemical burns depends on the type of agent, so it is important to know exactly what substance caused tissue damage.
Degrees of chemical burns
Similar to thermal burns, the chemical in terms of the depth of tissue damage is classified as follows.
- 1 degree - accompanied by redness and swelling.
- 2 degree - on the reddened swelling of the skin, large blisters are formed;
- 3 degree - all layers of skin are affected;
- 4 degree - defeat covers the bone.
It is noteworthy that the signs of a chemical burn do not fully manifest themselves immediately, therefore it is possible to assess their degree only after first aid is provided. The first symptom is a burning pain in place where a chemical has got, and slight redness. If you do not start immediately, the burn will go from 1 degree to 2 and even 3, since the substance continues to act, penetrating deeper into the layers of tissue.
Help with chemical burns
Correct actions with chemical burns can reduce the risk of deep tissue damage and increase the chances of rapid and effective treatment.
- Stop the chemical. If the substance is spilled on clothes, it must be removed immediately, or better - cut.
- Rinse the wound under a gentle jet of cool water 10 - 20 minutes, if the assistance is delayed, the washing time is increased to 30-40 minutes.
- Wash the wound with a substance neutralizing agent.
- Apply a sterile gauze dressing (do not use cotton!).
- Call an ambulance or deliver the victim to the burn center.
Rinse with water can not:
- burns with lime - its quenching is accompanied by heat release, and the affected tissue will also receive a thermal burn; lime is removed from the skin in a dry way, and then neutralized;
- burns with organic compounds of aluminum - contact with water is fraught with fire; the agent is removed from the skin with an alcohol solution.
Treatment of chemical burns
Wipe the wound with neutralizing agent solution from chemical burns only after a long rinse with water!
- alkaline burns are treated with weak solutions of acids (acetic, boric, lemon);
- acid burns wipe with a solution of baking soda;
- phosphoric burns require the application of a dressing moistened with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate;
- Phenol burns wipe with ethyl alcohol or vodka;
- Burns lime treated with sugar solution.
Treatment of chemical burns
If the skin is affected by a chemical, it is necessary to consult a doctor,
Curing a mild chemical burn, like a thermal one, is helped by medications like Panthenol, Vishnevsky ointment, Solcoseryl. As antiseptics apply drugs based on silver and alcohol forms of iodine. Categorically it is contraindicated to apply to the wound homemade ointment from chemical burns on the basis of folk recipes and other non-sterile and untested medicines.