SLC21/WK6: Understanding Burns: Types, Causes, and First Aid Responses

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Hello Steemians. It's a new week and I'm incredibly happy to be participating in this activity organized by @abdu.navi03 because I found it challenging and interesting at the same time. I was attracted by the topic burns and I do have a little knowledge on first, second and third degree burns and so I decided to give it a go
We'll be talking on understanding burns, types, causes and first aid responses
Read on🤗

Q1: Write a detailed first aid response for the following scenario:

" You witness a child accidentally spilling hot tea on their arm. What immediate steps will you take? What actions will you avoid?
Include considerations for burn severity and explain your reasoning. "

These are the first steps I'll take.

First I'll have to try to stop the burning process by immediately removing any clothing or jewelry such as children's wrist watches or anything of such nature that may be in contact with the burned area because these can retain heat and worsen the child's burn.

Next I will cool the burn by running it in cool tap water for some 10-15 minutes. I will not to use the water that is iced or too cold as this will worsen the child's situation.

Next I will check how severe the burn is, by considering the size of the burn, depth of the wound and location of the burn, as well as the child's age.

In the midst of all these, I will talk to the child in a calm and soothing way to help him or her feel more comfortable and secure and eliminate any feeling of fear.

If necessary I will then seek professional medical attention that is if the burn happens to be severe or covers a large area.

Actions I will Avoid

I will not apply ice or ice water because ice can cause further damage to the skin and underlying tissues.

I won't also burst or break any blisters that may be on the skin. Breaking or bursting blisters can lead to infection.

Using oil or some other creams can worsen the burn by increasing heat in the affected area thereby damaging the skin so I will avoid that.

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Considerations for Burn Severity

Now I'll explain the types of burns in relation to their severity.

First-degree burns are burns that are really mild in nature. From personal observation, they are actually the mildest of all because they only affect the outer part of skin and when observed closely, the affected part may appear red, swollen, or even painful.

Second-degree burns are burns that are not as mild as first degree burns. These burns affect both the outside and inside of the skin and It is more severe than first degree. Without close observation it can already be seen that the affected area appears red, swollen, painful, or even blistered so it is clearly visible to any one looking.

Third-degree burns are really bad and are the worst type of burn. They tend to be very severe and need greater attention because they extend through all layers of skin and even damage the tissues. They may appear charred or white and may not even be painful due to nerve damage.

When assessing burn severity, i will consider the following factors:

The size, depth and location of the burn

Size of burnt area: Actually burns that cover a large area of the body are often more severe and life-threatening than the ones covering just a small area of the patient skin. Therefore, size really matters and a larger wound will need more attention than a smaller wound.

Depth of wound: The deeper a wound or burn is, the more severe it turns out to be . Thus, burns that extend through the layers of skin are often more severe than the ones that are shallow.

Location of the burn: The location of a burn also matters greatly in that burns in the face, hands, feet, or genital area are always more severe than the other body parts because these parts are really sensitive.

Age: Burns in children, older adults, or people with certain medical conditions may be more severe as these ones are fragile and very vulnerable.

Q2: "A worker in a warehouse suffers an electrical burn after touching exposed live wires. The burn site shows entrance and exit points, with damage to the skin and underlying tissues. What are the immediate first aid actions you should take, and what critical steps should you avoid? How does this differ from treating thermal burns?"

The first thing I will do is to make sure that the environment is safe and secure by making sure that the power source is off completely and the victim is carried gently away from the electrical source, wires or any appliances around.

The next thing I will do is to assess the victim's airway, breathing, and circulation. This is also known as the ABCs to make sure I check for any signs of respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, or other severe situations that might make the situation more complicated.

It is necessary to remove clothing and jewelry and do so in a gentle way especially clothes that are in contact with the burned area because these can conduct electricity and worsen the injury.

If the burn is not really that severe, cooling it with cool tap water (not ice water) for 10-15 minutes is the best thing to do. However, it is also necessary to beware of using water on electrical burns that have exposed internal tissues or organs as it will not be ideal to apply water in such situations.

Next, I'll cover the burn with a non-stick, sterile bandage or dressing to protect it from further irritation or infection.

Finally, if the situation worsens I'll have to call for professional emergency medical help.

Critical Steps to Avoid

If the power source has not been turned off, It would be best not to approach the victim so as not to encounter electrical shock.
Using water on electrical burns with exposed internal tissues or organs can cause further damage and lead to cardiac arrest so avoiding that is the best.

Ice water should not be applied as this can cause further damage to the skin and the tissues

Differences from Treating Thermal Burns

Electrical burns can cause internal injuries. It can also cause cardiac arrest, respiratory distress.
Electrical burns require that the individual handling the patient exercises more caution when providing the first aid, as the risk of electrical shock is still present.

Electrical burns may not show immediate symptoms because the damage can be internal.

Thermal Burns
Thermal burns only affect the skin and underlying tissues.
Thermal burns also show immediate symptoms, such as redness, swelling, and pain because it is not entirely internal

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Q3: "A worker in a factory accidentally spills a strong acid on their arm, causing immediate pain, redness, and blistering. A colleague tries to wash it off with water but notices the burn spreading."

a. Identify the type of burn.

The type of burn is a chemical burn. To be precise it is an acid burn. Chemical burns happens when the skin comes into contact with powerful acids or bases which are also corrosive substances

b. What Went Wrong During Initial First Aid

During the initial first aid,the colleague tried to wash off the acid with water. An individual may feel like the very first thing to do is to wash off the acid, but the truth is water can actually activate the acid and make the burn worse and worsen the entire situation. Also, water may not even neutralize the effect of the acid.

c. Correct First Aid Steps

The correct first aid steps for an acid burn are:
First, flush with cool water. However this does not apply to chemical burns.
In most situations, flushing with cool water is the first step to take, but for chemical or acid burns it is not advisable to do so.

If possible the effect of the acid should be neutralized either with a weak base, but this should be done if the acid has been identified and if the agent used for neutralizing is appropriate.

Next, any clothing that has been contaminated should be removed to avoid more damage. It should also be rinsed with cool water or a saline solution after the acid had been neutralized successfully.
Still, this should be done carefully because water can still activate the acid.

An ointment needs to be applied to the affected area to prevent infection and the area should be covered well with a bandage

However, if the burn is really severe and affects a large area of the patient's skin or if any sign of infection is experienced such as redness, swelling, or pus, then, professional medical assistance should be seeked.

Q4: You are a first responder in a rural area. Two people are injured in a house fire:
Person A has a large area of third-degree burns but is conscious and calm
Person B has second-degree burns on both legs and is in severe pain.
You can only help one person immediately due to resource constraints.
Whom do you prioritize, and why? Support your decision with medical and ethical reasoning.

In this scenario, I would prioritize Person A for this reasons
First, third-degree burns are really dangerous. They can even cause swelling and compromise the airways making breathing difficult and even if the person is currently conscious the situation may be getting out of control if left unchecked or handled with a lax attitude.
Third-degree burns are so more prone to infection due to the destruction of skin and tissue and giving treatment as quickly as possible can help reduce this risk.

Paying attention to person A whose condition is worse will allow me to act immediately thereby reducing the risk of organ failure.

Q5: Create an infographic on burn management. Include the following:

a. Types of Burns and Their Causes (Electrical, Thermal, etc)

Types of Burns
Degree of Burns
First Aid Steps for Minor Burns
First Aid Steps for Major Burns
What NOT to Do During Burn First Aid

Infographic done on canva