Burn -tissue damage resulting from local thermal (thermal), chemical, electrical or radiation exposure. The most frequent are thermal burns resulting from exposure to high temperatures (flame, hot steam, boiling liquids, hot metal).

Degree of burns

There are four degrees of burns:

First degree: on the damaged area there is redness, swelling, burning sensation. Only the superficial layers of the skin are affected.

Second degree: bubbles appear on the skin filled with a yellowish liquid (blisters), severe pain.

Third degree: skin necrosis (scab formation).

Fourth degree: carbonization of tissues to bones.

The severity of the burn is determined   depending on the depth of the lesion and on the area at the same time. In addition to a violation of the integrity of the skin, large burns are accompanied by general phenomena, such as shock, toxemia, damage to the nervous and vascular systems, and loss of blood plasma. Regardless of degree, burns with an area of \u200b\u200b25% of the body surface are very dangerous; burns to half the surface of the body are often fatal. With deep burns, pain may be absent due to damaged nerve endings.

First aid Remove the damaging factor! To extinguish burning clothing in any way possible (pour water on a person, wrap him in a blanket, coat and lay him on his back so that the flame does not spread to his head), remove the victim from the high-temperature zone, remove or cut off smoldering clothing (however, do not try to remove the material, adhered to the skin) Cool the burn spot 1st and 2nd degree - cool with running water for 10-15 minutes 3 and 4 - clean wet dressing, then cool with a dressing in stagnant water close with a wet dressing peace and antishock measures

Signs and symptoms: Redness of the skin - 1 degree blisters appeared - 2 degree wound - blisters burst - 3 degree carbonization and lack of sensitivity - 4 degree

What not to do: DO NOT lubricate with oil, cream, ointment, protein, etc., DO NOT apply foam (panthenol) to freshly burned. DO NOT tear off adhered clothing. DO NOT pierce bubbles.

Remove all things from the burned area of \u200b\u200bthe body: clothes, belt, watches, rings and other things. Cut adhering clothes around, you can not tear it from a burn. We are hospitalized if: The area of \u200b\u200bthe burn is more than 5 palms of the victim Burn in a child or an elderly person III degree burn Inguinal area burned Burnt mouth, nose, head, respiratory tract Two limbs burnt

Additionally: 1 palm of the victim \u003d 1% of the body A burn of the respiratory tract is taken equal to 15% of a burn of I degree

First aid for burns with acids and alkalis

Chemical burns are caused mainly by acids and alkalis.

In case of burns with concentrated acid, it is washed off with a stream of running cold water (at least 30 minutes), soapy water or a 1-2% soda solution.

The most severe damage occurs when exposed to alkalis. They are also washed off with water, or with a weak solution of acetic or citric acid.

Apply a clean, dry dressing to the burnt surface.

Attention:

When burned with quicklime, water should not be used, but should be washed with some oil.

When burns with organic aluminum compounds, we do not use water, since ignition is possible.

List of funds used in first aid in cases of chemical burns with various substances.

Burning substance	Neutralizing agent
Acids	Water, sodium bicarbonate
Alkalis	Water, solutions of 1% acetic acid, 3% boric or citric acid
Phenol	Water, 40-70% ethyl alcohol
Chromium compounds	1% sodium thiosulfate solution
Quicklime	Lotions with 20% sugar solution
Aluminum Organic Compounds	Gasoline, kerosene

Chemical burns can cause irreparable harm to human health.

Therefore, it is very important to be able to provide first aid to the victim. In most cases, the degree of damage and the consequences of a burn will depend on this.

It is important to understand the essential difference between chemical and thermal burns. When burns with chemical reagents, it is necessary to clearly know the antidote substances that neutralize the effects of a particular chemical reagent. What to do with a chemical burn? How to treat a chemical burn? Is it possible to cope with the treatment of a chemical burn at home? Everything in order - in this collection of material.

Chemical burn of the skin: features, symptoms, diagnosis

A chemical burn is a violation of the integrity of the tissues of the human body under the influence of agents of a chemical nature.

This type of burn often becomes more dangerous than a thermal burn. This is due to the type of aggressive chemical and the duration of the reagent. The process of cell destruction and absorption of a chemical substance can continue even after elimination of the chemical component, which often complicates the timely determination of the degree of damage.

Chemical burns occur due to non-observance of safety rules when working with chemical reagents or in accidents in everyday life (intentionally or through negligence).

The external symptoms of chemical burns differ depending on the action of the chemical. Most often, acid or alkaline drugs become the source of damage.

• When exposed to alkali skin , the resulting scab is more friable, with blurry borders. Alkaline liquids are able to penetrate deeper into the skin than acids, causing more extensive damage to soft tissues.
• When exposed to skin acid ,   a dense, dry crust (scab) with clear contours is formed at the site of the lesion.

Burns caused by exposure to chemical acids are in most cases superficial. The color of the affected skin can determine the name of the acting acid.

• In contact with sulfuric acid, the skin turns white first, then turns gray. With prolonged contact, the burn becomes a darker, brown shade.
• Skin effects nitric acid   leads to a change in the skin to yellow-green or brown-yellow color (depending on the duration of contact).
• After exposure of hydrochloric acid ,   the skin turns yellow noticeably.
• Burn caused acetic acidbecomes a dark brown hue.
• Carboxylic acid   causes whitening of the area of \u200b\u200bdamaged skin, which eventually changes to brown.

It is possible to diagnose the degree of damage as accurately as possible only after a few days (when the suppuration of the scab area begins). The longer the exposure of chemical components to body tissues and the larger the area of \u200b\u200bdamage, the more dangerous a burn is for human health and life. Therefore, with chemical burns, it is very important to provide first aid to the victim, and then immediately seek qualified medical help.

It is in the hospital that, according to the nature of the injuries, the depth of penetration, the concentration of the chemical reagent and the duration of its exposure, the degree of the resulting chemical burn will be established and treatment prescribed.

No less dangerous is the general toxic poisoning of the body with an aggressive chemical component. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose the area of \u200b\u200bdamaged skin, all the negative effects of the reagent on the human body and possible consequences.

In addition to skin lesions, eyes or internal organs, in particular the gastrointestinal tract, can be affected by a chemical burn. Parts of the body with thin skin (face, skin folds, genital area) are affected more, since there the smallest epidermis.

Degrees of chemical burns

There are 4 main degrees of chemical burns.

• Ipower

Only the upper layer of the skin is affected, there is a slight swelling and redness of the area. The burn is accompanied by moderate pain, treatment is carried out at home.

• IIpower

With the second degree of burn, not only the upper layer of the skin, but also the lower tissues are damaged. The burn is accompanied by swelling, redness and the appearance of vesicles with a transparent serous fluid. The level of pain and sensitivity becomes higher than with the first degree, but with a small burn area, the patient does not need hospitalization.

• III   power

There is a deep lesion and necrosis of tissues, up to adipose subcutaneous tissue. Small bubbles appear in the damaged area with a cloudy liquid, sometimes with blood. The sensitivity of the skin is significantly reduced and the patient practically does not feel pain at the burn site. The victim needs hospitalization, since spontaneous healing of the wound often becomes impossible.

• IVpower

The most dangerous degree, in which not only skin and muscle tissues are deeply affected, but also tendons and bones. Surgical care is provided in the hospital.

Rules for the treatment of chemical burns

There are a number of rules, the use of which in emergency situations will help to significantly alleviate the condition of the victim and reduce the effect of the reagent on the body.

• First aid for chemical burns should be provided without delay and fuss. You need to act calmly and judiciously. How well and correctly first aid is provided to the victim, the success of further treatment will depend.
• It is especially important to know the rules of first aid for people working with chemicals. Indeed, in such situations, the risks of chemical injury are much greater.

• Knowledge of the main antidotes below will help to quickly neutralize the active substance.
• After receiving first aid, the patient must consult a doctor in order to exclude possible negative consequences after a burn.
• The main rule of first aid is not to harm the victim.
• The key rules for treating chemical burns, in addition to providing qualified first aid to the victim, are reduced to drying the wound, treating with antiseptics (so that there is no suppuration) and using drugs that improve blood circulation and tissue regeneration processes.

First aid for a chemical burn

First aid for chemical burns can dramatically change the subsequent treatment process, both for better and for worse. Therefore, before providing assistance to the victim, you need to be 100% confident in their knowledge, so as not to harm the injured person.

• First of all, with a chemical burn, it is important to stop the action of the chemical agent. Therefore, if a substance gets on clothing - it must immediately be removed or cut.
• If residues of powder chemicals remain on the skin, they are first shaken off the skin and only then the residues are washed off.
• The damaged area of \u200b\u200bthe skin is thoroughly washed with running water, thereby reducing the concentration of the chemical substance, the depth of its penetration, cooling the skin and reducing pain. Rinse the wound for 10 to 30 minutes.

The exception is burns caused by alkali, quicklime, organoaluminum compounds!

• If the burn is caused by acidaffected skin washed with 1-2% soda solutionand then apply a swab dipped in ammonia solution   (alcohol is diluted with water). You can not "repay" the burn with a solution of alkali - this will lead to a new burn, only already caused by alkali. The action of diluted acid is more dangerous than concentrated. This is due to the fact that highly concentrated acid instantly causes coagulation of proteins, forming a dense scab, preventing the burn from deepening. Especially dangerous is the exposure to the skin of highly toxic hydrofluoric acid, used, for example, for etching glass.
• Alkali burn   dangerous for its rapid penetration into the tissues. Such a burn do not rinse immediately with water. The hydroxyl group of the alkali under the action of water will contribute to a deeper penetration of the chemical into human tissue. Affected skin washed with 1-2% solution of acetic or citric acid   (not concentrated).
• Quicklime Burn   also can not be treated with watersince the interaction produces hydrated lime (strong base). In this situation, it is better to grease the burn site and consult a doctor.
• Pesticide & Herbicide Burnprocess ethyl alcohol or gasoline. After first aid, the victim should be taken to a hospital to administer an antidote.
• Phosphorus Burn Area, immerse completely in water to prevent spontaneous combustion of the reagent. After this, removing phosphorus particles on the skin, apply a dressing moistened in a weak solution potassium permanganate.

• Phenolic burn   neutralized by solution alcohol or vodka.

• After washing and neutralizing the chemical reagent, place on the burn site sterile dry dressing.

You cannot use cotton wool for dressings!

• With severe pain, the patient can be given pain medication.
• Before the ambulance arrives, the victim needs to drink as much fluid as possible (for example, tea or mineral water).

Chemical burn treatment

• The main rule of treating chemical burns, including at home, is to use drugs only after consulting and examining a doctor. For safety and positive effects, do not self-medicate, risking health and life.
• For the treatment of chemical skin burns, it is recommended to lubricate the affected area with special medicinal ointments (Fusiderm, Solcoseryl). Burns caused by chemicals need subsequent cell regeneration and blood supply, which is what the action of the above ointments is aimed at.
• Such restorative, disinfecting, healing and drying effects are also exerted by such preparationslike Bepanten, Panthenol, ichthyol ointment, sea buckthorn oil.
• Alcohol free iodine   or silver preparations   have an antiseptic, disinfectant, drying and analgesic effect.
• There are also folk recipesthat promote wound healing after thermal and chemical burns. These include compresses based on medicinal herbs: chamomile, oak bark, hop cones. Having prepared decoctions from these herbs, take a sterile dressing, moisten and apply to the wound for 15 minutes. You can prepare a therapeutic ointment based on aloe leaves. To do this, take 2-3 leaves of aloe, wash them, cut the thorns and grind into a "pulp". To this mass is added melted fat (pork or interior); after cooling - the ointment is ready for use. The use of alternative recipes is still better to discuss with your doctor.

Xmoral burn   eyes

A chemical burn of the eye is one of the most difficult aspects in terms of treatment in ophthalmology. The danger of such burns lies in the possible weakening or complete loss of vision. This directly depends on the degree of damage, the penetration depth and, directly, the type of chemical reagent that has got into the eye.

• In practice, a chemical burn of the eye with acid is considered less complex than an alkaline solution. This is due to the fact that acids provoke instant coagulation of proteins and, therefore, not deep penetration of the reagent. The exception is nitric, sulfuric, and hydrofluoric acids. If alkali enters the eye, the reagent destroys the cells and can lead to tissue necrosis.
• The provision of first aid for chemical burns of the eye is reduced to profuse washing of the eye and calling an ambulance. At home, it is impossible to provide qualified assistance with such lesions.

Xburn of the mouth or esophagus

• This type of burns is one of the most difficult to treat and recover.
• In such situations, it is impossible to provide first aid by neutralizing the chemical agent. Only if we are talking about a chemical burn of the oral cavity, you can try to rinse the mucous membrane of the oral cavity with water before the ambulance arrives (if this is allowed by the type of acting chemical substance).
• The main task of providing first aid for burns of the digestive system is to urgently call an ambulance.

Xface burn

• Facial skin is thin and sensitive, and with severe chemical burns, a chemical reagent can disrupt the regenerative function of skin cells, which leads to the formation of scar tissue. From an aesthetic point of view, such “traces” on the face disfigure the appearance of a person, cause psychological problems. From a medical point of view, gross scars violate the motor and excretory function of the skin.

• In our time, such a cosmetic procedure as peeling with fruit acids has become popular. If the dosage and concentration of the acid solution are not correct, a shallow chemical burn of I degree may also occur. Such a cosmetic burn often requires a subsequent rather long course of treatment.

Thus, chemical burns pose a serious danger to human health and life, which means that they need qualified medical treatment. But, having information about the features of different types of burns and their treatment, you can provide first aid to the victim in time. Proper and timely action before the arrival of an ambulance can significantly alleviate the condition of the patient and contribute to his speedy recovery.

Chemical burn photo

Video: "First aid for a chemical burn"

Burns with sulfuric acid began to occur not only among workers in the chemical industry, but also among ordinary housewives. First aid for chemical burns - this is the first thing to know about, using household products containing acid.

Burns are a common occurrence. People encounter them in everyday life, accidentally clinging to the stove, scalding their hand with boiling water, without wearing gloves, using a cleaning agent. The consequences depend on the degree of influence of the causes.

Most people, fortunately, know how to provide first aid to themselves or to others with the so-called household burn (boiling water, steam, open fire). But in the event of a chemical burn, a smaller number of people will be able to provide first aid and recognize the degree of burn. Chemical burns have recently begun to occur in ordinary apartments, and not just in chemical plants and laboratories, due to the appearance of a large number of household cleaning products that contain acids, alkalis or their salts.

Manufacturers on the packaging always warn the buyer about protective equipment (gloves, glasses) that should be used when working with their products. But often this warning is neglected. In other cases, the manufacturer requires diluting the product to the desired concentration, but, again, due to neglect of the instructions, chemical burns appear. And there is another type of manufacturers, just dishonest. They fake cleaning products of bona fide manufacturers, adding cheap ingredients, which sometimes even react in the packaging, but in fact the buyer gets a chemical burn, even if he complied with all safety rules.

First aid for chemical burns has its own characteristics in connection with another mechanism of action of a substance on a part of the body. But, nevertheless, the first and main rule is rinsing with a sufficiently large amount of water, preferably flowing, affected area.

A chemical burn means exposure to an area of \u200b\u200bthe body with alkali, acid, a salt of heavy metals, or a mixture of other chemical reagents. The degree of burn will depend on the amount, concentration, time of exposure to the substance. I degree - only the epidermis is affected (the upper layer of the skin), possibly slight redness, burning. II degree - the epidermis and the deeper layers are affected. Small bubbles appear with fluid, redness, and slight swelling. III degree - all layers of the skin and the fat layer are affected. Bubbles with turbid liquid swell, the sensitivity of the skin area is disturbed. IV degree - all layers of the skin, fat layer, muscles and sometimes bones are exposed.

There is a small feature for chemical burns. If a chemical agent enters, a crust forms, which is sometimes difficult to distinguish from a healthy area. The crust formed from exposure to acid is softer and friable, more often located on the surface. Alkaline crusts are denser and affect several layers of the skin. So the effect of alkalis is more destructive for the human body than acid. An interesting feature is that when sulfuric acid enters the body area, the skin becomes white first and then brown.

First aid for chemical burns. Initially, clothes should be removed from the place where the chemical has got, since it can help spread the reagent to large areas of the body. Next, rinse the burn with water, preferably flowing, for 15 minutes. If the wound was not initially washed, then this should be done immediately if possible, but the time will increase to 45 minutes, since the chemical could spread to the deeper layers of the skin. Do not use wet wipes, cotton swabs moistened with water, only aggravation of the process can occur. If itching occurs, rinse the area with water again for 5 minutes.

In the future, if the burn is acidic, then the affected area is treated with a 2% solution of baking soda or soapy water. If alkali has taken place, then a neutral solution of acetic or citric acid is used to neutralize. Lime is neutralized with a 2% acid solution, and carbolic acid with glycerol. At the end of the process, a cold and loose dressing is applied to the affected area. After providing first aid, the patient should be taken to the hospital, and the victim should immediately be sent there in case of his shock condition or large area of \u200b\u200bdamage.

Sulfuric acid burns are the most dangerous among chemical burns. Sulfuric acid is a strong dibasic acid, it is a powerful oxidizing agent. Sulfuric acid absorbs vapors from the air and greatly dehydrates organic material. As it was written earlier, when it enters the body area, the skin first whitens, then turns brown, and a purple scar forms during healing. Sulfuric acid is dangerous in the eyes, as this can lead to loss of vision. Inhaling a small amount of the vapor of this acid can cause a burn of the larynx, and a high concentration can lead to hemorrhagic pneumonia and even death.

First aid for inhalation of vapors is fresh air, inhalation with a 2% soda solution, milk with soda should be taken inside, and codeine is prescribed for coughing. In case of shock, the victim should be hospitalized immediately, and before the ambulance arrives, you can inject a 1-2% solution of promedol subcutaneously and give plenty of water. First aid for a chemical burn of the eye is aimed at eliminating the reagent, and this can be done by thoroughly rinsing the eyes and conjunctiva with running water, then it is advisable to instill 1-2 drops of a 0.5% solution of dicaine with adrenaline. Help with chemical burns to the eyes must be provided by an oculist.

There are a number of cases where you should not rinse the affected area with water. First, a quicklime burn. Water will only enhance the reaction, the reagent should be removed with vegetable oil. Secondly, a burn with aluminum powder. When reacted with water, this reagent ignites, it is necessary to shake it off, and only then treat this area with kerosene. Thirdly, phenol is removed with a 40% solution of ethyl alcohol, and phosphoric acid is neutralized with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate. If any acid or alkali gets inside, do not induce vomiting, since the chemical can injure the esophagus when passing backwards.

Water can be given orally in order to dilute the concentration of the reagent, but not more than 3 glasses. In case of suffocation of the victim, artificial respiration should be done, but not mouth-to-mouth, but nose-to-mouth, due to the fact that the larynx can be burned. Do not lubricate with ointments, fats and sprinkle powder with a burn area, as this can lead to a reaction between the substances. In no case should you open the bubbles formed at the burn site, this will lead to a wound complication with pyogenic or putrefactive microflora.

There is a very good proven folk recipe that allows you to relieve swelling, reduce pain and inflammation. Potatoes should be taken, grated, the resulting slurry should be applied to the affected area. When heating the compress, it should be replaced with a new one.

The best treatment is prevention, so you should not neglect safety rules even at home. First aid is not a substitute for emergency call and skilled medical care.

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Many chemicals are strong enough to destroy the tissues of the human body. The greatest destructive potential has concentrated acids and alkalis. When exposed to acids and alkalis on the human body, chemical burns are formed. First aid for chemical burns includes abundant washing of the burn site with running water to remove aggressive substances, applying a sterile dressing to the burn site. If the chemical has been swallowed or gets into the eyes, then in addition to washing the stomach or eyes, you need to call an ambulance.

  - this is tissue damage that occurs under the influence of acids, alkalis, salts of heavy metals, caustic liquids and other chemically active substances. Chemical burns occur as a result of work-related injuries, safety violations, accidents at home, as a result of suicide attempts, etc. The depth and severity of a chemical burn depends on:

• strength and mechanism of action of a chemical substance
• quantities and concentrations of a chemical
• exposure duration and degree of penetration of a chemical

The severity and depth of tissue damage burns are divided into 4 degrees:

1. I degree (damage to the epidermis, upper layer of the skin). With a first degree burn, slight redness, swelling and slight soreness are observed on the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin
2. II degree (damage to the deeper layers of the skin). A second-degree burn is characterized by the appearance on the reddened and swollen skin of vesicles with transparent contents.
3. Grade III (damage to the deeper layers of the skin up to the subcutaneous adipose tissue) is characterized by the appearance of blisters filled with a cloudy fluid or bloody contents, and a violation of sensitivity (the burn area is painless).
4. IV degree of burn (damage to all tissues: skin, muscles, tendons up to the bones).

Most often, chemical skin burns belong to burns of the III and IV degrees.

In case of burns with acids and alkalis, a scab (crust) forms at the burn site. The scab formed after alkali burns is whitish, soft, friable, passing to neighboring tissues without sharp boundaries.
Alkaline liquids have a more destructive effect than acidic ones because of their ability to penetrate deep into tissues.
In case of acid burns, the scab is usually dry and hard, with a sharply delimited line at the transition to healthy skin areas. Acid burns are usually superficial.
The color of the affected skin, with a chemical burn, depends on the type of chemical agent. The skin fired with sulfuric acid is first white, and then changes color to gray or brown. When burned with nitric acid - the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin has a light yellow-green or yellow-brown tint. Hydrochloric acid - leaves yellow burns, acetic acid - burns are off-white, carbolic acid - white, which then turns into brown.
A burn caused by concentrated hydrogen peroxide has a grayish tint.
The destruction of tissue under the influence of a chemical substance continues even after the termination of direct contact with it, since the absorption of a chemical substance on a burnt site continues for some time. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine the degree of tissue damage in the first hours or even days after an injury. The true depth of the burn is usually detected only 7-10 days after a chemical burn, when suppuration of the scab begins.
The severity and danger of a chemical burn depends not only on the depth, but also on its area. The larger the area of \u200b\u200bthe burn, the more dangerous it is for the life of the victim.

First aid for chemical skin burns

First aid for chemical burns of the skin includes: the speedy removal of a chemical from the affected surface, a decrease in the concentration of its residues on the skin due to plentiful washing with watercooling the affected areas to reduce pain.

If you have a chemical skin burn, take the following measures:

• Immediately remove clothing or jewelry that has been exposed to chemicals.
• To eliminate the cause of the burn, rinse the chemicals off the surface of the skin by holding the affected area under cold running water for at least 20 minutes. If assistance with a chemical burn occurs with some delay, the duration of washing is increased to 30-40 minutes.
• Do not try to remove chemicals with cloths, swabs, moistened with water, from the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin - as you rub the chemical into the skin even more.
• If the aggressive substance that caused the burn has a powdery structure (for example, lime), then the chemical residues should be removed first, and only then proceed to wash the burned surface. The exception is cases when, due to the chemical nature of the agent, contact with water is contraindicated. For example, aluminum and its organic compounds ignite when combined with water.
• If after the first washing of the wound, the burning sensation intensifies, rinse the burned area again with running water for a few more minutes.
• After washing a chemical burn, it is necessary to neutralize the effect of chemicals if possible. If you are burned with acid, wash the damaged skin with soapy water or a 2 percent solution of baking soda (this is 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 2.5 cups of water) to neutralize the acid.
• If you are burned with alkali, then wash the damaged area of \u200b\u200bthe skin with a weak solution of citric acid or vinegar. With lime burns, a 20% sugar solution is used to neutralize.
• Carbolic acid neutralizes glycerin and milk of lime.
• Apply a cold, damp cloth or towel to the affected area to reduce pain.
• Then apply a loose bandage of dry sterile bandage or a clean, dry cloth to the burned area.

Minor chemical skin burns usually heal without further treatment.

For chemical burns, seek emergency medical attention if:

• The victim has signs of shock (loss of consciousness, pallor, shallow breathing).
• The chemical burn spread deeper than the first layer of the skin and covers a section with a diameter of more than 7.5 cm.
• A chemical burn affects the eyes, arms, legs, face, groin, buttocks or large joint, as well as the oral cavity and esophagus (if the victim drank a chemical).
• The victim feels severe pain that cannot be relieved with the help of over-the-counter analgesics, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Going to the emergency room, take a chemical container or a detailed description of the substance with you to identify it. The well-known nature of the chemical makes it possible, when assisting in a hospital, to neutralize it, which is usually difficult to produce in a domestic environment.

Chemical eye burns

Chemical eye burns occur when acids, alkalis, lime, ammonia and other aggressive chemicals get into them in everyday life or production. All chemical eye burns are serious eye injuries, and therefore require direct examination and treatment by a doctor.

The severity of eye burns depends on the chemical composition, concentration, amount and temperature of the substance that caused the burn, the condition of the eyes of the victim and the general reactivity of the body, as well as the timeliness and quality of first aid to the victim. Regardless of the type of chemical, eye burns are usually accompanied by pronounced subjective sensations: photophobia, cutting pains in the eye and lacrimation, and in severe cases, loss of vision. At the same time, the skin around the eyes is affected.

First aid for chemical burns of the eye should be provided immediately. The main measure in the provision of first aid for chemical eye burns is the immediate and abundant washing of the eyes with running water. Eyelids should be opened and the eye rinsed for 10-15 minutes with a weak stream of running water to remove the chemical.

You should not waste time searching for a neutralizer, as profuse eye rinsing with running water is much more effective. With alkali burns, milk can be used for washing. After washing, apply a dry dressing (a piece of bandage or gauze). But the most important thing - in all cases of chemical eye burns - consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Chemical burns of the esophagus and stomach

Chemical burns of the esophagus and stomach occur when accidentally or intentionally (for suicidal purposes) ingestion of concentrated acids (vinegar essence, battery electrolyte) or alkalis (ammonia). The main symptoms of chemical burns of the digestive system are reduced to severe pain in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach. If the upper part of the larynx is simultaneously burned, patients begin to suffocate.

Vomiting appears with bloody mucus and scraps of burnt mucous membrane. Due to the rapid spread of burns through the digestive tract, first aid should be given as soon as possible. First aid for chemical burns of the esophagus and stomach is to neutralize chemical agents. For alkali burns, the stomach is washed with a weak solution of acetic acid, and for acid burns, a solution of drinking soda is used. Be sure to wash the stomach with large quantities of liquid, achieving complete removal of the chemical agent that caused the burn. The victim with a burn of the esophagus or stomach should be sent to a medical center or hospital as soon as possible.

Any chemical burn, in fact thermal, is characterized by damage to the human body in contact with chemicals that can cause tissue destruction.

This is in most cases acid, alkali, volatile oils, bitumen, kerosene and gasoline, phosphorus, etc. Moreover, most often the affected areas belong to the upper limbs, less often to the lower, even less often to the body. But sometimes the eyes, face or organs of the esophagus and oral cavity suffer from such a burn.

It should be borne in mind that the consequences of such a burn depend on the depth, severity of penetration and concentration of the chemical, as well as on the quality of timely treatment. In this material we will consider the types of chemical burns, their photos, and also find out what first aid should be given to a person at home with a chemical skin burn.

Degrees of chemical burns

With such burns, the skin of the face, hands, esophagus and stomach are most often affected. The main substances that cause burns are acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, hydrofluoric, etc.), alkalis (caustic soda, potassium hydroxide, etc.), gasoline, kerosene, salts of heavy metals (zinc chloride, silver nitrate, etc.) , some volatile oils, phosphorus, bitumen.

The severity of damage to the skin and mucous membranes during a chemical burn depends on the concentration of the substance and the duration of its effect on the tissue. In total, it is customary to distinguish 4 degrees of burn severity with chemicals:

• 4 degree. The lesion affects all tissues, including the skin, muscles and tendons.
• 3 degree. Affected are those layers of the skin that are located near the adipose subcutaneous tissue. The characteristic features characteristic of a burn of this degree are the appearance of bubbles with a turbid liquid or an admixture of blood. In the affected area, sensitivity is impaired, that is, the victim does not feel pain within him.
• 2 degree. In this case, the lesion affects, in addition to the upper layer of the skin, its deeper layers. A burn of this degree is characterized by manifestations in the form of swelling and redness, in addition, bubbles filled with a transparent liquid also appear.
• 1 degree. Only the upper layer of the skin is affected. Among the main manifestations that accompany this type of burn, there is a slight edema in the severity and redness of the skin. In addition, there are also slight painful sensations in the affected area.

It is noteworthy that the signs of a chemical burn do not fully appear immediately, therefore, their degree can be assessed only after first aid. The first symptom is a burning pain in the place where the chemical fell, and a slight redness. If you do not immediately begin to provide assistance, the burn will go from degree 1 to 2 or even 3, as the substance continues to act, penetrating deeper into the layers of tissue.

First aid for chemical burns

At home, first aid for chemical burns of the skin includes: speedy removal of the chemical from the affected surface, a decrease in the concentration of its residues on the skin due to abundant washing with water for 15-30 minutes, cooling the affected areas in order to reduce pain.

1. At chemical burns with acid   to neutralize use a 2-3% solution of drinking soda.
2. In case of alkali burns - 1-2% solution of citric, boric or acetic acid.
3. With lime burns, first, the dry residue is removed by lime, and only then the affected area is washed off for a long time and vigorously.
4. In case of burns with phosphorus, it is necessary to discard burning clothing or throw on a burning surface any fabric moistened with water. They extinguish the flame of phosphorus with a stream of water from the tap or 1-2% solution of copper sulfate. All visible phosphorus particles are removed with tweezers, after which a bandage is applied to the burned surface, liberally moistened with 2% copper sulfate solution, 5% bicarbonate of soda or 3-5% potassium permanganate solution.

Then you can apply a sterile bandage from gauze, but not from cotton wool - you can not use it. In the process of neutralizing the chemical agent, clothing in contact with the burned area, watches and jewelry are carefully removed from the victim. To reduce the inflammatory process, the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin is washed with cool water, and the victim must be given a strong analgesic (pain happens up to loss of consciousness).

With a chemical burn seek emergency medical attention, if:

1. The victim has signs of shock (loss of consciousness, pallor, shallow breathing).
2. The victim feels severe pain that cannot be relieved with, for example, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
3. The chemical burn spread deeper than the first layer of the skin and covers a section with a diameter of more than 7.5 cm.
4. Affected eyes, arms, legs, face, groin, buttocks, or large joint, as well as the oral cavity and esophagus (if the victim drank a chemical).

Going to the emergency room, take a container with a chemical substance or its detailed description for identification. The well-known nature of the chemical makes it possible, when assisting in a hospital, to neutralize it, which is usually difficult to produce in a domestic environment.

Chemical burn of the esophagus

It may happen that a chemical enters the esophagus and stomach. This can be done intentionally or in an accident. Very often, such substances are battery electrolyte and vinegar essence.

More rare cases are alkalis or concentrated acids entering the esophagus and stomach. The victim develops severe pains in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, larynx and stomach. When the larynx is affected, the patient may feel a lack of air. Vomiting appears with bloody mucus and pieces of gastric mucosa, which is separated due to a burn.

Since this type of burns spreads very quickly, the patient needs immediate first aid, which includes, first of all, gastric lavage. It can be washed with a solution of drinking soda, if it is a burn with acids, or a weak solution of acetic acid with a burn of alkalis. In this case, a person needs to be given a drink not just a large, but a really huge amount of liquid, which will make it possible to completely get rid of the chemical component.

With such burns, you should call emergency doctors as soon as possible or take the patient to the hospital yourself.

Chemical burn eyes

   A chemical burn of the eye is always considered a difficult situation in terms of treatment in ophthalmology. It all depends on the degree of damage, on the agent, on the penetration depth. Such a burn can sometimes lead not only to impaired vision, but even to complete loss of it.

• Chemical eye burn with acid is the most “easy” to treat compared to other types of agents.
• A chemical burn of the eye with alkali is difficult to treat by causing hydrolysis of the protein structure itself, which destroys cells and can quickly lead to wet necrosis. This can affect the intraocular fluid and significantly increase intraocular pressure.

With a chemical burn of the eyes, as a first aid, it is necessary to do an abundant rinse and immediately consult a specialist, it is better to call an ambulance.

Thermal skin burn

Thermal burns occur due to exposure to fire, steam, hot water (boiling water), sunlight, etc. Most often, thermal burns are obtained from fire, they are 84 per 1000 victims. Thermal burns obtained from hot liquids take the second place, and electric burns take the third place.

Such burns are of three degrees:

• I degree - redness of the skin, swelling of the skin;
• II degree - the appearance of blisters filled with a clear liquid at the burn site;
• III degree - thermal burns of the third degree are divided into two types: IIIA (dermal, damage to the upper layers of the skin) and IIIB (necrosis of all layers of the skin when a necrotic scab forms).