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BURNS AND
SCALDS
The seriousness of a burn
or a scald depends principally on the size of
the area involved rather than its depth, as it is
the area which governs the amount of body fluid
(plasma) that will be lost by oozing from the
tissues. This can be very considerable if the
burn is extensive and, in a young infant, even a
small burn should be seen urgently by the
doctor. However, if a burn is small but deep,
this can result in bad scarring. In view of
their seriousness, as well as the very
considerable discomfort that is caused by any
form of burn, the importance of taking every
possible precaution to avoid their occurrence
cannot be stressed too strongly.
Following a burn the skin rapidly becomes
reddened and frequently blisters with some
swelling of the affected area. In a superficial
burn only the outer layers of the skin are
affected; in a deep burn the whole of the skin
thickness is involved including the nerve
endings and therefore the pain will tend to be
rather less intense.
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Treatment
The affected area should be
immediately immersed in cold running water for
five to ten minutes until the pain settles. In
the case of a burn produced by hot liquid, all
saturated clothing should be carefully removed
without delay; burned clothing that is now cool
and dry, and which has been sterilized by the
heat, should not be removed immediately. Remove
any tight articles such as rings before the
affected part begins to swell as it might be
very difficult to get them off later on.
If
any blisters have formed, these should not be
punctured as they provide an excellent
protection to the underlying damaged tissues.
The fluid within them will be absorbed within a
few days. If any blistering has occurred, the
area should, if possible, be left exposed - or,
if the child will be getting dirty, covered with
a clean, dry dressing (a handkerchief or sheet
will do temporarily) - and attempts should
be made to keep this dry to help healing.
Avoid all unnecessary contact with the
burned area to prevent any infection. Do not
apply creams or ointments if the skin surface
has been broken. Aspirin or Disprin may be
required to relieve the pain. |
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WHEN TO CONSULT THE DOCTOR
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Unless the burn is
very small, it is advisable to seek medical
advice without delay so that the clinical state
of the child can be assessed and appropriate
treatment undertaken.
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