Thermal burn: symptoms, first aid

Thermal burn of the skin occurs as a result of direct exposure to the flame, hot gases and metals, radiant energy, hot liquids, steam. Conditionally it is divided into two types: limited and extensive. The latter affects 10% of the skin and more. Burns, occupying a quarter of the surface of the body, are extremely severe. If less than 10% of the skin is affected, the lethal outcome is extremely rare. The main cause of death in this trauma is shock.

Thermal burn : symptoms

In the affected area there are always intense pains. Depending on the severity of skin lesions, there are four degrees of burns. At I there is a strong reddening. At the II degree on the skin bubbles are formed. The third degree is of two types: A and B. In the first case, necrotic changes undergo epidermis, and in the second - all layers of the skin are affected. At the fourth degree, deeply lying tissues die.

None of them passes without a trace. The 1st degree thermal burn is the easiest. But even it can be prognostically dangerous if half or more of the body surface is damaged. A second degree burn is a threat in case of a third of the skin, and III if it burns more than a third. In severe and extensive damage, shock develops. Also, the condition of the body as a whole, defined as a burn disease , is permanently disrupted . After the shock, the following periods alternate: getting toxins into the blood, septic fever with complications and recovery. In case of burn disease, the additional load goes to the central nervous system, internal organs. With injuries to the trunk and head, pleurisy and meningitis can develop.

Assistance with thermal burns

Of course, you must immediately eliminate the factor that caused the injury. From the burned site it is necessary to remove clothes. But you can not tear off the adhering parts of it, they need to be carefully trimmed. Also it is forbidden to use creams, oils, ointments, urine, to pierce the formed blisters. Next, cool the damaged surface. With burns of the I-II degree, this is done by running water, watering the wounds for a quarter of an hour, then applying a moist clean bandage. With a grade III-IV lesion, the bandage is applied immediately. The victim must ensure peace and wait for the arrival of an ambulance.

Thermal burn in the eye area

It occurs as a result of exposure to the eye shell of high temperature. Most often, a thermal eye burn is caused by steam, molten metal, flame, boiling water or fat. He is rarely isolated. Basically, such damage is combined with common burns to the face or other parts of the body. The clinical manifestation depends on the extent of the lesion.

Thermal burn in the eye area: first aid

It begins with the immediate elimination of a water jet, tweezers or a cotton swab of the remnants of the substance that caused the injury. If necessary, a solution of dicaine is introduced into the conjunctival sac and general anesthesia is performed. If the cornea is damaged for disinfection purposes, a solution of levomycetin is injected into the eyes and a synthomycin emulsion or tetracycline ointment is placed . Compulsory administration of an anatoxin and tetanus antiserum.