Burns- Do not lose your loved ones to them
Dec 28, 2008
THE festive season is here. While partying we may forget the dangers our families are exposed to, especially fire.<br>Lit candles, electric wires, hot charcoal stoves are among the fire risks. <br>
By Catherine Bekunda
THE festive season is here. While partying we may forget the dangers our families are exposed to, especially fire.
Lit candles, electric wires, hot charcoal stoves are among the fire risks.
And fire is one of the leading causes of death. According to UNICEF, 750,000 people die and 400 million are handicapped due to burns annually.
Mulago Burns Unit is the major treatment centre for burns. However, it is not well-facilitated. The unit does reconstructive surgery on patients.
A great portion of the funds come from Interplast Holland which spends between €800-100m on the unit,†says Dr Robert Ssentongo, the head of the Burns Unit at Mulago Hospital.
Who is prone to burns?
Dr. Carolyne Achola in Lacor Hospital says drug abusers, epileptics, the elderly and mentally retarded face the highest risk.
Types of burns
First-degree burns
It involves only the epidermis (outer layer of skin).
The skin will redden and can also swell. If the burn does not cover a significant part of your body, treat it at home, says Dr Achola.
Second-degree burns
Here, the hypodermis (second layer of the skin) is also burnt. The skin will have a blotchy appearance and you will have severe pain.
If you suffer a small second-degree burn — a few inches in diameter — treat it at home. If the burned area is large, seek medical help.
Third-degree burns
It involves all layers of the skin. You may experience severe pain, but if a nerve has been damaged, you may feel no pain. Third-degree burns call for immediate medical care.
How to treat burns
Minor burns
Hold the burnt part under cold, running water for 15 minutes. If there is no running water, immerse the burn in cold water.
Do not apply butter to the burn because it will trap heat in the damaged tissues, which can increase the chance of infection.
Apply lotion to the area to prevent dryness.
Loosely wrap the burn with a sterile gauze cloth.
To prevent infection, your body will produce fluid-filled blisters; do not pierce them. When the blisters break on their own, wash the area with water and soap, dry it, apply an antibiotic ointment and a sterile gauze bandage. If needed, you can use an over-the-counter pain killer like acetaminophen.
Major burns
See a doctor at once.
Remove the cause of the burn. Do not remove burned clothing stuck to the skin.
Cover the burned area with a dry, sterile bandage. Use a cotton bed sheet for large areas. Do not use blankets or towels, as they stick to burns.
Chemical Burns
Use cold water to flush chemicals off the body.
If the chemical is a powder, such as lime, use a brush to remove it from the skin before flushing with water.
Remove any jewellery or clothing that has been in contact with the chemical.
Flush the area with cold water until the burning sensation stops.
Wrap the burned area with a clean cloth or a sterile gauze bandage.
If a chemical comes into contact with your eyes, flush them with water. Flush them for at least 20 minutes.
Close your eyelids and cover them with loose, moist dressings before going to a doctor with someone’s assistance.
Electrical Burns
All electrical burns should be evaluated by a doctor for two reasons. Although, it may appear minor, damage may have occurred deep into the tissues. Electrical burns can sometimes result in an irregular heart beat.
Healing from a burn differs from age, amount of tissue destroyed, what body part has been burnt.
Children heal faster because their cells are more active and recreate themselves much faster than adults.
When you should seek Medical Care
Although some burns can be treated at home, others must be referred to a hospital and these include:
Partial burns greater than 10% body surface area
Burns that involve the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, buttocks or major joints
Third-degree burns
Electrical burns, including lightning injury
Chemical burns
Inhalation injury
Any patients with concomitant trauma (such as fractures)
Burned children admitted to hospitals without qualified personnel or equipment for their care
First Aid for Burns
Dr. Ssentongo, says:
Remove the cause of fire.
Pour cold water on the burnt part until the pain is gone.
Do not apply oil, sugar or vaseline because they retain heat in the burn which can cause infection.
If one’s clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll on the ground until the fire is out.
Do not re-enter a burning house.
Although the fire may not burn you the smoke can choke you and make you feel dizzy hence falling into the fire.
THE festive season is here. While partying we may forget the dangers our families are exposed to, especially fire.
Lit candles, electric wires, hot charcoal stoves are among the fire risks.
And fire is one of the leading causes of death. According to UNICEF, 750,000 people die and 400 million are handicapped due to burns annually.
Mulago Burns Unit is the major treatment centre for burns. However, it is not well-facilitated. The unit does reconstructive surgery on patients.
A great portion of the funds come from Interplast Holland which spends between €800-100m on the unit,†says Dr Robert Ssentongo, the head of the Burns Unit at Mulago Hospital.
Who is prone to burns?
Dr. Carolyne Achola in Lacor Hospital says drug abusers, epileptics, the elderly and mentally retarded face the highest risk.
Types of burns
First-degree burns
It involves only the epidermis (outer layer of skin).
The skin will redden and can also swell. If the burn does not cover a significant part of your body, treat it at home, says Dr Achola.
Second-degree burns
Here, the hypodermis (second layer of the skin) is also burnt. The skin will have a blotchy appearance and you will have severe pain.
If you suffer a small second-degree burn — a few inches in diameter — treat it at home. If the burned area is large, seek medical help.
Third-degree burns
It involves all layers of the skin. You may experience severe pain, but if a nerve has been damaged, you may feel no pain. Third-degree burns call for immediate medical care.
How to treat burns
Minor burns
Hold the burnt part under cold, running water for 15 minutes. If there is no running water, immerse the burn in cold water.
Do not apply butter to the burn because it will trap heat in the damaged tissues, which can increase the chance of infection.
Apply lotion to the area to prevent dryness.
Loosely wrap the burn with a sterile gauze cloth.
To prevent infection, your body will produce fluid-filled blisters; do not pierce them. When the blisters break on their own, wash the area with water and soap, dry it, apply an antibiotic ointment and a sterile gauze bandage. If needed, you can use an over-the-counter pain killer like acetaminophen.
Major burns
See a doctor at once.
Remove the cause of the burn. Do not remove burned clothing stuck to the skin.
Cover the burned area with a dry, sterile bandage. Use a cotton bed sheet for large areas. Do not use blankets or towels, as they stick to burns.
Chemical Burns
Use cold water to flush chemicals off the body.
If the chemical is a powder, such as lime, use a brush to remove it from the skin before flushing with water.
Remove any jewellery or clothing that has been in contact with the chemical.
Flush the area with cold water until the burning sensation stops.
Wrap the burned area with a clean cloth or a sterile gauze bandage.
If a chemical comes into contact with your eyes, flush them with water. Flush them for at least 20 minutes.
Close your eyelids and cover them with loose, moist dressings before going to a doctor with someone’s assistance.
Electrical Burns
All electrical burns should be evaluated by a doctor for two reasons. Although, it may appear minor, damage may have occurred deep into the tissues. Electrical burns can sometimes result in an irregular heart beat.
Healing from a burn differs from age, amount of tissue destroyed, what body part has been burnt.
Children heal faster because their cells are more active and recreate themselves much faster than adults.
When you should seek Medical Care
Although some burns can be treated at home, others must be referred to a hospital and these include:
Partial burns greater than 10% body surface area
Burns that involve the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, buttocks or major joints
Third-degree burns
Electrical burns, including lightning injury
Chemical burns
Inhalation injury
Any patients with concomitant trauma (such as fractures)
Burned children admitted to hospitals without qualified personnel or equipment for their care
First Aid for Burns
Dr. Ssentongo, says:
Remove the cause of fire.
Pour cold water on the burnt part until the pain is gone.
Do not apply oil, sugar or vaseline because they retain heat in the burn which can cause infection.
If one’s clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll on the ground until the fire is out.
Do not re-enter a burning house.
Although the fire may not burn you the smoke can choke you and make you feel dizzy hence falling into the fire.