BURNS FIRST AID AT HOME

Asslamoallaikum girls,

Its ramazan and all the housewives have to cook a gourmet meal twice daily now :-) In all that hurry and fuss,you can somtimes burn your hand or scald your finger with hot oil.So,I thought I should do a post on the fist aid and management of burns.

Lets start with a burn kit.Here is how it should be.

In addition to the regular first aid items,the kit should have:

1)-One pair of gloves
2)-Water jel or burn gel(comes in botttles or sachets)
3)-Water Gel dressing
4)-Non adhesive bandages (in small and large sizes)
5)-Scissors
6)-Burn cream(contianing silver sulphdiaiazene e-g Silvadene,Flam off 1%)
7)-Cold compress
8)-adhesive tape to secure bandage
9)-Normal saline in case of a chemical burn
10)-Panadol
11)-Benadryl,Avil or other Over the counter antihistamine


Now,before treating the burn we need to know the type.There are four types:

FIRST DEGREE BURNS:
They appear red skin without blisters.These are superficial and will not leave a scar if properly treated.

Photo Courtesy:google  images

SECOND DEGREE BURNS:
There is redness with blistering of skin.It also doesn't leave a scar if treated with care.The blister should not be popped at all.

Photo Courtesy:google

Photo Courtesy:google  images

THIRD DEGREE BURNS:
These are deeper burns.They expose the underlying tissue.Blister will not form, because the top layers of skin have been burned away.It does leave a scar.

Photo Courtesy:google  images

FOURTH DEGREE BURNS:

These are very deep burns and destroy all the tissues including nerve endings.So that pain is not the major issue.Therefore if the burn is painless and deep,it is a bad sign.

Photo Courtesy:google  images

TREATMENT:

1)-Rinse the area with cool water.DO not use icy water or DO NOT apply ice as it accelerates the damage that has ensued in the burnt tissue.

Use cool water only.Rinse the area for atleast 15-20 minutes.If the burn is on an area you can not Put under cool water then pour COOL water over it.Keep on doing so for 15minutes.This will efectively reduce the pain and the tissue burning.

2)-Take ibuprofen(brufen) or Acetaminophen (panadol) for pain.For children,1teaspoon syrup brufen reduces pain alot.

3)-Now application of antibiotic cream or ointment depends upon the nature of burn.

FIRST DEGREE BURN:

Apply burn gel on the area.The burn gel had anesthetic properties so that ir relieves pain and prevents infection too.The burn gel is a water based gel which keeps burnt area cool and prevents further tissue death occuring because of increased temperature.

You can use aloevera gel or honey over it to accelerate healing.Aloevera gel is safer because honey might contain bacteria.

SECOND DEGREE BURN:

1)-Apply burn gel on the whole area and wrap it up losely with a gauze..You can also apply gel dressing directly and wrap it with a gauze.When pain ceases or reduces you can do the next step

2)-Rinse the area.Let air dry.Apply Silveden cream liberlly over the whole area.Then wrap the burn in a non-stick bandage or Sterile gauze.They come with the name of Rayban gauzes in Pakistan.The cream should be so much that it shouldnt dissappear or get soaked in the bandage.

3)-After first aid you must see the doctor atleast once.The doctor may prescribe only gel bandage for your burn.It has a cooling effect and is non sticky.If burn is deep he may need to prescribe antibiotics.

4)-Change the bandage twice daily,after rinsing the area with water and a mild soap.Let it air dry, then apply ointement then wrap it with gauze.

5)-If your burn is on an area which extends alot eg inside of elbow or palms,then you should dao mild flexing and extension of that part daily atleast three times.This will help avoid skin tighteneing.

6)-Keep on dressing the burn until the old skin is replaced by new pink skin.Consult your doctor before stopping.

THIRD DEGREE BURN:

Go to a Hospital emergency immediatly.


THINGS TO AVOID:

1)-Do not use ice on burns.

2)-Do not use vaseline,butter,cream on burns .This is because lipids trap heat and potentiate the damage inflicted by the original injury.

WHEN SHOULD YOU GO TO EMEREGENCY IMMEDIATLY:

1)-In case of deep OR third degree burns.
2)-In case oof large burns.
3)-In case of burns in facial area or genitals.
4)-In case of chemical burns(like bleach burn,acid burns,cleaning solution burns).Keep rinsing with normal saline to protect further damage.

Hope you will find this post usefull.Stay safe and have a virtuose Ramazan.