A thermal burn is when, under the influence of high temperatures (for example, direct fire, hot steam or liquid, preheated object, sunlight, etc.), the tissues are damaged. What do you need to know about thermal burns to each person?
First of all, that thermal burn is divided into three degrees depending on what area it is hooked and how deeply it penetrated into the tissue.
It is necessary to know that the first degree of a burn is only a minor harm caused to a thin epithelium, it is noticeable only due to local redness, but it is rather painful.
Thermal burn of the second degree penetrates deeper and affects the dermis, that is, the skin itself. Here the pain is much more serious, and in addition to redness in the affected area, bubbles also appear.
The third degree of burn is the most dangerous, it affects all skin layers, and also touches the nerve trunks and vessels under the skin. That's why the place of the burn becomes not sensitive and dries up, and sometimes it gives the impression that it is charred.
However, it is not enough to know everything about the burn, you still need to be able to use this knowledge, although, for example, not every parent can assess the degree of skin damage of a child. Therefore, the call of a doctor is mandatory. Although you can distinguish the first degree from the third one. It is more difficult to distinguish the second degree from the third, so if you are in doubt, and the child has a burn more than his palm, then consult a doctor.
Next, I will give you those situations that require immediate medical attention.
1. If the child has a third degree burn (even if it is very small).
2. If the child has a 2nd degree burn, which has captured the area of the body equal to the child's palm.
3. If the child has a 1st degree burn that has covered a part of the body equal to 10% of the total surface (for example, a hand or stomach).
4. If the burn touches the face, the joint (any), neck, hand, foot or perineum.
Now let's talk about the first aid you can provide your child:
- The first thing to do is to make sure that the child is safe and the factor that caused the burn is no longer dangerous (if the child was in a burning building - it is necessary to take it out, if under the rays of light - to hide, if something was burning on it - to remove or pour water on it if something very hot gets on your clothes - instantly take off or tear clothes off);
- If the thermal burn is of the 1 st or 2 nd degree, it must be urgently cooled with running water, but ice should not be used, it is best to keep the temperature frames at 12-18 degrees. The cooling procedure is approximately 20 minutes. Option, when the place with a burn is placed in a vessel with water worse than if the water is flowing;
- after you have cooled the affected area, cover it with a clean, soaked in cool water and wrung out a piece of cloth;
- If the burn is serious (3rd degree), then it must not be placed under water in any case ! It is necessary immediately to cover this place with a damp napkin;
- However, if you can not determine: what degree of a burn, it is better to still hold the affected area of the skin under cold water;
- Give the affected child a child's pain reliever;
- if the baby has received a burn of the foot or hand, lay each finger on the limb with a damp cloth;
- remove the baby rings and bracelets, immediately!
What can not be done?
- do not cool the water with a serious third-degree burn;
- if the clothes are stuck to the skin - try to tear it away;
- Try to pierce the blisters;
- touch the affected area with your hand;
- apply a piece of cotton wool, ice or materials for dressing that are glued to the body (for example, a patch);
- try to treat the burn with any oils or sour cream (kefir and cream - here), all kinds of ointments and creams, lotions, in no case - urine or powder and padded materials, iodine, zelenka, alcohol or peroxide.
When you have already performed all the necessary actions of the first emergency aid to the child affected by the burn, then you need to carefully evaluate the situation. If you are sure that the area and depth of the burn are great and you need to call a doctor - then no additional action is not necessary, all the doctors will do. However, if the situation is not so frightening and you are sure that the burn does not pose a clear threat to the health of the baby, then you can try to cure it at home.
However, it happens that parents incorrectly assess the situation and believe that they are able to cope with the burn, which, in fact, requires medical examination. Therefore, if you still did not call a doctor and are treated at home, you need to know the symptoms, the appearance of which signals that the burn is too serious and self-medicate in your case even dangerous. These are the symptoms:
1) the child is sick and vomits;
2) high body temperature is observed for a sufficiently long period (more than 12 consecutive hours);
3) passed the day after the burn, but the pain does not subside, but only intensifies;
4) passed the day after the burn, but the reddening on the skin does not decrease, but grows;
5) the child feels that the damaged place is numb.
You can be treated at home. In this case, the first rule says that you can not disturb a damaged place: bandage it with a bandage and walk more often in the fresh air. With light burns, local action drugs (spray, aerosol) can be used. If the degree of burn is second, then you need to apply the medication to both redness and blisters, and when the last ones are opened up - you should immediately cover them with antibacterial ointment in order to avoid getting the infection.