Burns can range from minor medical issues to life-threatening situations. Electricity or chemicals are responsible for some of the most serious burns. Burns in children are most commonly caused by scalding liquids.
Sunburns and minor scalds are normally treatable at home, but deep or extensive burns require medical attention right once. Severe burns may necessitate care in specialized burn units. To cover extensive wounds, skin grafts may be required.
The initial step in treating most burns is to saturate the area with cool tap water. Ice should not be used since it may cause more damage to the injured tissue.
SYMPTOMS
Because burns do not impact the skin in the same way, single damage might have varying depths. The degree of damage to the body’s tissues must be determined to distinguish a small burn from a more serious burn. The following are the four types of burns:
Burns to the first degree.
Only the outer layer of the skin is affected by this mild burn (epidermis). It produces redness and pain, and it normally goes away within a few days to a week with first-aid procedures. A famous example is a sunburn.
Burns to the second degree.
These burns cause redness, pain, and swelling in both the epidermis and the second layer of skin (dermis). The appearance of a second-degree burn is frequently wet or moist.
Blisters can form, and the discomfort can be excruciating. Scarring can result from second-degree burns that are too deep.
Burns to the third degree.
Third-degree burns are those that penetrate the fat layer under the dermis. The skin might be hard, waxy white, leathery, or brown in appearance. Nerves can be destroyed in third-degree burns, resulting in numbness.
Burning to the fourth degree.
Burns are the most severe impact structures other than the skin, such as muscle and bones. The skin may appear blackened or burnt. You may not feel any pain if you have significant nerve damage.
CAUSES
Many substances can cause burns, including:
- Fire
- Hot liquid or steam
- Hot metal, glass, or other objects
- Electrical currents
- Radiation from X-rays or radiation therapy to treat cancer
- Sunlight or ultraviolet light from a sunlamp or tanning bed
- Chemicals such as strong acids, lye, paint thinner, or gasoline
TREATMENT FOR BURNS.
- To lower the risk of common domestic burns, follow these steps:
- Cooking things should never be left unattended on the stove.
- Turn the pot handles backward on the stove.
- Use oven mitts that are thick enough to cover your hands and wrists.
- Children and pets should be kept away from hot liquids.
- Cooking in loose-fitting clothing that could catch fire over the stove is never a good idea.
- Space heaters should be kept away from combustible items.
- If you really must smoke, do it outside of the house and never in bed.
- Check and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors regularly.
- Chemicals, lighters, and matches should all be kept out of reach of youngsters.
- To avoid scorching, set your water heater’s thermostat between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit (49 and 54 degrees Celsius).