How to treat burns?

Burn is one of the most common injuries and almost every person at least once in his life was burned. Burns are divided into 4 degrees, depending on the depth of tissue damage. So, The first degree burn is the easiest, it affects only the uppermost layers of the skin, is characterized by reddening and swelling, disappears without a trace within 4-5 days.

Second degree burn - stronger, it is characterized not only bythe appearance of redness and swelling, but also the formation of bubbles filled with liquid. If such a burn is treated correctly, then it can pass for 7-10 days without scar formation. Burns of the first and second severity can be treated at home.

Third and fourth degree burns - The strongest. In this case, not only the skin, but also deeper tissues is damaged, with fourth degree burns - up to the bones. After healing of burns, scars remain. Treat such burns only in a hospital hospital!

Before you treat burns, you need to give the victim first aid. With household burns of the first-second degree,first try to remove or at least reduce the pain: for this purpose you can put the affected area under a strong stream of cold water (5-15 minutes is enough). After this, a sterile dry bandage should be applied to the burn. Sterile dry bandage can be made from bandages, special napkins.

Unfortunately, thermal burns are not the only danger that awaits us in dealing with household appliances and various substances. Also it is often possible to get a burn from the interaction with acid, alkali (chemical burns). Burns are also possible with electric shock. Actions in the treatment of burns in these cases will be slightly different from the standard ones.

For example, in no case can not be washed with water burn, obtained as a result of exposure to quicklime, This will only lead to an aggravation of the situation. Such a burn must be treated with vegetable oil. In the preparation of chemical acid burns, it is necessary to wash the affected areas with a 2% solution of baking soda, and in the preparation of alkaline burns, a weak solution of citric acid. Further on the burned areas it is necessary to impose a sterile bandage.

Further treatment of burns the first and second degrees are performed under the bandagesor open method. In the first method of treatment, medicinal substances are applied to bandages, and then these dressings are applied to the affected areas. With the open method, medicinal substances are applied directly to the surface of the burned skin.

Various solutions, ointments, pastes, gels, aerosols and sprays, powders, etc., are used as medications for local treatment of burns. At home, often also resort to traditional methods of treating burns, based on the use of animals andvegetable fats, herbs. Before turning to the traditional means of treating burns, it is necessary to consult with a doctor, otherwise health can cause even greater harm.