A burn injury is a terrifying experience, and it can be extremely painful. It is important to know the different types of burn injuries that can occur.
Superficial burns only affect the top layer of skin (epidermis) and are red, oozing, and painful but do not blister. Use cool running water on a superficial burn. Do not put butter, ointment or other greasy substances on the wound.
- Electrical Burns
Electricity passes very easily through the human body, causing damage throughout the tissues. These burns often occur as a result of direct contact or flashing high voltage injuries. They may be a superficial or first degree burn, a partial or second degree burn, or a full-thickness burn called a third degree burn.
When a person is burned, it is important to seek medical care immediately. This can help prevent infection and ensure that all the injured tissue heals correctly. It is more important to know the different burn injuries. You need schedule a call today.
To prevent electrical burns, always use caution when using appliances and be sure to check electrical cords for signs of wear and tear. You should also place socket covers on unused plugs and follow workplace safety rules. Also, never touch downed wires and always stay away from power lines until they are turned off.
- Chemical Burns
Chemical burns can occur from chemicals used in the workplace such as acid, alkali and corrosives. They can also be caused by household cleaners and disinfectants.
Chemicals burns often happen through inhalation. If this happens, patients will require respiratory treatment and may need to be admitted to hospital.
Those who suffer from chemical burns should be thoroughly rinsed with cool water as soon as possible to minimise damage to the skin. They should remove any clothing or jewellery that is contaminated and rinse their eyes continuously until medical help arrives. If they suffer a chemical burn to the eye they should seek emergency care immediately as it can cause permanent damage. This may involve a skin graft (taking healthy skin from an uninjured part of the body) and fluid therapy to prevent shock and dehydration.
- Fire Burns
Many burn injuries are caused by fires such as building fires, flammable liquids and gases or open flames. Scald injuries from hot liquids, grease and steam are also common sources of burn injury.
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the burn. A person may be hospitalized if they have severe burns. They will be given fluids to prevent shock and dehydration. Their skin may be gently cleansed and blisters cared for (some doctors will remove blisters while others will leave them intact).
Severe burn injuries often require a skin graft that replaces damaged tissue with healthy skin from another part of the body. The graft will usually heal on its own. The burned area may be swollen, discolored and painful. The injured person may lose feeling in the area if it is a third degree burn that covers a significant amount of their skin.
- Burns Caused by Drowning
Serious burn injuries require immediate medical attention. Call your local emergency number or 911 and run cool water over the wound (not ice).
Patients with severe burns should be assessed for shock by EMS — watch for pale and clammy skin, weakness, blue lips and fingernails.
A burn’s severity is determined by its depth and the total body surface area involved in the burn. Burn treatment varies by burn degree and the percentage of the TBSA burned. Blistering is common with second-degree burns and may give the wound a wet or weeping appearance. Thickening of the burned skin, known as scab formation, takes time and may result in a change of skin pigmentation. All burns carry a risk of infections, particularly when bacteria enter broken skin. Infections may lead to sepsis and tetanus, which is why it’s important to update your tetanus shot.
- Burns Caused by Smoke
Patients who are burned by smoke can also experience injuries that affect their breathing. Symptoms of burn-related inhalation include soot in the mouth and throat, singed nose hairs, wheezing and difficulty breathing. The initial work-up of burn patients should be based on the principles of Advanced Trauma Life Support.
It is important to determine the cause of the injury in order to decide what type of burn the patient has. It is also crucial to identify if the injury is serious so that medical attention can be obtained as soon as possible. Serious burns can result in a lifetime of physical and emotional trauma. A personal injury lawsuit can help victims receive compensation for their losses if they are injured because of another person or company’s negligent actions.
