Thermal refers to burns obtained by contact with heat sources. And there are enough of them in the house: an iron, a saucepan, a steamer, hot water, a plate and many other things that are indispensable in everyday life, which can cause pain in inaccurate treatment.
Degrees of thermal burns
Before treating a thermal burn, it is necessary:
- make sure that the damage is caused by the action of high temperature, and not by a chemical (chemical burn is treated differently);
- to assess the signs of a thermal burn (to establish the degree and area of damage).
There are 4 degrees of thermal burns, to be able to determine which each person should:
- 1 degree - the affected skin reddens, swells, small bubbles may form;
- 2 degree - the place of the burn swells, reddens, becomes covered with large blisters, a thin scab forms;
- 3 degree - the epicenter of the burn is struck to the muscles and bones, a scab formed, the bubbles burst; epicenter, as a rule, surround zones with small blisters and reddening (1 and 2 degree);
- 4 degree - the affected area is charred, burns of 3, 2 and 1 degrees are observed around.
The area of the affected skin with thermal burns can be calculated according to the "rule of the palm", according to which 1% of the surface of the body falls on the area of the palm of one hand.
Emergency aid for thermal burns
The procedure for providing first aid for thermal burns is logical and simple:
- Avoid contact with a heat source (if clothing burns, the victim must be covered with a blanket or sprinkle a flame of sand, fill with water, ask to ride an old man on the ground);
- to calm the victim (or to calm himself);
- remove (it is better to cut) the remains of burnt clothes, tear off the scrapes from the wound can not be;
- hold the burn place under cold running water for 10-20 minutes (after stopping contact with the heat source, the damaged tissue is still hot and continues to deteriorate);
- if there is no running water, you can lower the burned body part in a container or apply a wet bandage (in no case you can not use ice!);
- Apply a burn and a sterile bandage to the chilled area of damage; thermal burns of 1 degree bandages do not require - enough ointment;
- with extensive burns of the extremities, it is necessary to impose a tire, giving the injured arm or leg an elevated position;
- give the victim anesthetic (analgin, paracetamol);
- call an ambulance or take the victim to the hospital, where there is a burn department (except for small lesions of 1 degree and burns of 2 degrees the size of a coin).
Be careful!
It is worth remembering that properly rendered first aid for thermal burns is the key to a rapid restoration of tissues with a minimum risk of scarring and scarring.
You can not:
- To treat a wound with cotton wool - only a sterile bandage or gauze tampons;
- to open blisters;
- touch the wound with hands without sterile gloves;
- impose on the wound any traditional medicine (oil, sour cream, kefir, whipped eggs, alcohol solutions of any healing herbs, etc.);
- to stick a wound with a plaster.
Treatment of thermal burns
Burns of 1 degree can be treated at home. Extensive lesions of 2-4 degree require therapy under the supervision of a physician.
Home treatment involves changing dressings twice a day with the application of an anti-burn agent. The lesion can be treated with hydrogen peroxide (3%), the skin around the burn with iodine or zelenka. On the wound is applied a remedy for thermal burns and a sterile gauze dressing.