|
|
|
Education
What
A Burn Is: A burn injury is the destruction
of the different layers of the skin and the structures with
in the skin. Such as sweat glands, oil glands and hair follicles.
Heat generated from the fire or heat source and how long
the skin is exposed to the heat is what damages the skin.
The depth of injury is described as first, second, third
degree burn.
|
| a |
First |
Second
(superficial or deep) |
Third
(full thickness) |
| Depth
(how deep the burn is) |
Epithelium |
Epithelium
and top aspects of the dermis |
Epithelium
and dermis |
| How
the wound looks |
No
blisters; dry pink |
Moist,
oozing blisters; Moist, white, pink, to red |
Leathery,
dry, no elasticity; charred appearance |
| Causes |
Sunburn,
scald, flash flame |
Scalds,
flash burns, chemicals |
Contact
with flame, hot surface, hot liquids, chemical, electric |
| Level
of pain (sensation) |
Painful,
tender, and sore |
Very
painful |
Very
little pain, or no pain |
| Healing
Time |
Two
to five days; peeling |
Superficial:
five to 21 days.
Deep: 21-35 days |
Small
areas may take months to heal; large areas need grafting. |
| Scarring |
No
scarring; may have discoloration |
Minimal
to no scarring; may have discoloration |
Scarring
present |
|
Percent of Burn
Injury: When
someone is 10% or 80% total body surface area (TBSA) burned
this indicates the actual amount of the body that is injured
with a burn. Specially designed charts ("Rule of Nines",
"Lund and Browder") are used by medical staff to help measure
how much of the skin is damaged by the burn.
Types
of Injury:
|
 |
Flame
|
|
Scald |
|
Contact |
|
Electrical |
|
Chemical |
|
What To Do if You
Get Burned
|
|
Stop,
Drop, Roll |
|
Cool
the burn area with cool water. Do not use Ice. |
|
Remove
non sticking burned clothes. |
|
Cover
the burn with a clean dry bandage. |
|
Keep
person warm. |
|
Remove
jewelry, tight cloths, belts and shoes. |
|
Do
not break blisters. |
|
Do
not use creams or butter. |
|
Seek
medical attention. |
|
Remove
hot wet clothes. |
|
Cool
the burn area with cool water. Do Not Use Ice. |
|
Cover
the burn with a clean, dry dressing. Keep the person warm.
|
|
Do
not use creams, or butter. |
|
Do
not break blisters. |
|
Seek
medical attention. |
|
Contact Burn (hot surface area, i.e., hot iron):
|
|
Cool
the burn area with cool water. Do Not Use Ice. |
|
Cover
the burn with clean dry dressing. Keep the person warm. |
|
Do
not use creams or butter. |
|
Do
not break blisters. |
|
Seek
medical attention. |
|
DO
NOT TOUCH the person in contact with electricity. Injury could
result. |
|
Call
911. |
|
Disconnect
the source of power or call the power company. |
|
After
the power is off begin medical assistance. Is the person breathing?
Does he have a heart beat? |
|
Begin
CPR if needed. |
|
Look
for other injuries. |
|
Cool
the burn area with cool water. Do Not Use Ice. |
|
Cover
the burn with clean dry dressing. Keep the person warm. |
|
Do
not use creams or butter. |
|
Seek
medical attention. |
|
Have
a fire escape plan |
|
Know
two ways out of a room. |
|
Make
sure smoke detectors are working properly. |
|
Be
prepared, have fire drills. Plan to assist people who can
not escape on their own. |
|
Think,
don't panic in a fire. Never waste time getting dressed or
gathering valuables. |
|
Sleep
with bedroom door closed. (This will give you additional time
to escape a fire.) |
|
Touch
door before opening. If it is warm fire may be in the hall.
Do not open door, find second way out. |
|
In
smoke crawl. Keep your head 1 - 2 feet from the floor. Do
not think you can breath in the smoke. One breath of smoke
can get you confused and disoriented. |
|
If
you can escape from a window, hang from it, then drop to the
ground. Do not jump. |
|
Have
a set meeting place outside the house. As you escape from
the house you meet the rest of the family in this location.
Make sure everyone is out of the house. |
|
Make
sure the fire department is called (911) once you get out
of the house or building. Inform the fire personnel of anyone
or any pets that might still be in the house. |
|
Never
go back in a burning building. Leave the fire fighting to
the professionals. |
 |
Copyright
©2000-2001 burntalk. All rights reserved.
|
|
