A recent admission to the Christiaan Baranard Trauma & Emergency Centre included that of a burns victim. The patient in question suffered a superficial thermal (from a direct heat source) burn to the left forearm after overturning a pot of boiling water, and thankfully sustained no further injury. After been rapidly assessed by the ER Doctor on call, the patient was treated accordingly and discharged from the casualty with the appropriate dressing and pain medication.
So what are burns?
A burn may be described as damaged sustained to your body's tissue which may be caused following contact with heat; chemicals; electricity; sunlight or radiation. The severity of a burn is dictated by the amount of damage caused to the skin and underlying structures, or the depth of injury. This may include underlying muscle or bone. The skin may be divided into 3 areas:
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Depending on the extent of injury, any part of the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, underlying structures or all of these areas may be damaged. Burns may be divided into three broad categories based on the depth of the injury:
Burns may cause swelling, blistering , shock and even death. Infection is a major problem associated with burn injuries as the skin is interrupted (the skin is the bodies first barrier of defense from infection). With severe burns, temperature may prove problematic with patients presenting with hypothermia post injury. Burns may be classified according to the extent of injury, (described as superficial, partial thickness and full thickness) as well as a % of Body Surface Area affected, described bellow:
Avoiding household burns:
The American College of Emergency Physicians: "Burns are one of the leading causes of accidental injuries in childhood, and the greatest tragedy is that many of these could have been prevented, fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect you and your family and avoid a trip to the emergency department."
The American College of Emergency Physicians: "Burns are one of the leading causes of accidental injuries in childhood, and the greatest tragedy is that many of these could have been prevented, fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect you and your family and avoid a trip to the emergency department."
- Don't leave hot cups of coffee on the table or counter edges
- Don't carry hot liquids or food near your child or while holding your child
- Always test food temperatures before serving a child
- When cooking, keep pot handles turned away from the front or side of the stove. Never leave pans unattended
- Cover unused electrical outlets
- Don't put water on a grease or oil fire
- Know what to do in the case of your clothes catching fire: STOP (don't run) DROP (to the floor immediately) ROLL (cover your face and hands while rolling to smother the flames)
REMEMBER: BURNS ARE A SERIOUS INJURY AND CAN RESULT IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BODY. BE SURE TO TAKE EVERY BURN INJURY SERIOUSLY. REPORT TO THE EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA CENTRE PROMPTLY, OR PHONE THE EMS FOR ON SCENE ASSISTANCE.
An Injury and Prevention Awareness Project brought to you by Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital Trauma & Emergency Centre.