How to Treat a Burn Quickly at Home
What is a Burn: A burn is an injury to the tissues that involve the various layers of the body – skin , hair , hair, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, eyes , etc. Burns are usuallycaused by direct contact with hot, overheated or incandescent objects, but it can also be caused by chemical substances such as acids, caustic soda and others. Radioactive emanations such as infrared and ultraviolet radiation or even electricity are other triggering factors for the burn .
Causes of the Burn: The causes of the burn are varied, but the burn is usually caused by:
- Exposure or contact with a source of heat (eg Sunburn , boiling water) or, on the contrary, a source of cold.
- intense friction
- Contact with any chemical substance
- Exposure to some radioactive agent (eg X-ray)
- Electric shock
- Exposure to jellyfish and other marine animals and microorganisms.
Burn First Aid: In case of an accident involving a burn , the first precaution is to extinguish the heat source, that is, to prevent the body from coming into contact with fire, liquids and heated surfaces, among other causes of the accident.
Then try to wash the affected area with running water at room temperature, preferably long enough for the burned area to cool.
It is also important to seek the help of a health professional at the nearest service point to the accident site, so that the necessary measures are taken for the success of the recovery and also to avoid the worsening of the injury.
If there is no Health Center nearby, you should call the SAMU and Fire Department emergency services or look for a hospital emergency. Contacts for toll free are: Samu 192 and Firefighters 193.
Burn Main Ways to Treat: The treatment will depend on the type of burn . So here ‘s How to Treat a Burn Quickly at Home:
- 1st degree burn: Make cold compresses in the first hours after the accident; do not put toothpaste or butter. Use mineral oil or liquid petroleum jelly to keep the burn hydrated; take pain reliever if necessary and use sunscreen regularly.
- Superficial 2nd degree burn: Blisters should be drained, but not removed, as they serve as a biological dressing. The procedure should preferably be done by a doctor. After the blister has burst, dressings with silver sulfadiazine or cerium nitrate, and cleaning with running water and chlorhexidine should be done. After healing, you should use sunscreen to prevent the appearance of stains .
- 2nd Degree Deep and 3rd Degree Burn: In most cases, hospitalization is required, as systemic manifestations usually occur, such as marked imbalance of sodium , potassium and/or calcium levels , and dehydration; need to remove necrotic tissues, foreign particles in the wound; and even perform grafting.
All patients with 2nd and 3rd degree burns should be vaccinated against tetanus, drink plenty of fluids and keep the affected limbs elevated to relieve pain and swelling. If it is a significant burn to the face, hands, feet and genitals, electrical or upper airway burn , seek immediate medical attention.