A burn is a very serious condition that may cause damage to the body depending on its degree, and that can cause shocking pain and emotional trauma to the person. It is critical to intervene as soon as possible and apply the right first aid to the burn, which may occur due to different reasons. It can be said that the more successful the first aid, the less damage to the skin and the danger to life.

What is a Burn?

Burn; It can be defined as damage to the skin as a result of exposure to excessive heat, radiation, sun, electricity and chemical substance contact.

Burn Degrees

Burns; depending on how much it penetrates the skin surface in terms of depth and severity; classified as first, second, or third degree burns.

First degree (superficial) burns

First degree burns only affects the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. The physical appearance of the burn is red, dry and free of blisters. Mild pain may be felt in the burn area. Sunburn is an example of first-degree burns. Long-term tissue damage is very rare in this type of burn, and a slight change in skin color is usually observed.

Second degree burns

In cases of second-degree burns that affect the epidermis as well as the dermis, the physical appearance of the burn may be red, white, blistered, mottled, and swollen. In this type of burn, moderate pain may be felt.

Third degree burns

Third-degree burns, in addition to destroying the epidermis and dermis, penetrate deep into the fat layer of the skin and can cause permanent damage to bones, muscles and tendons. In addition, brown, black, or white patches may appear at the burn site. Since the nerve endings are destroyed, loss of sensation is observed in the area. These types of burns require an intensive treatment and rehabilitation process.

How to Give First Aid in Burn Cases?

Burn; It is a very dangerous situation for people of all age groups. It can penetrate all layers of the skin in a very short time. It can also cause permanent skin damage and even death. The emergency interventions to be done in burn cases are as follows, according to the degree of burns:

First Aid for First Degree Burns

1. Immerse the burned skin in cold water or apply a cold compress to the area. Avoid using ice, as adding ice can cause greater damage.
2. It is important to remove the accessories quickly, as the burn area can swell very quickly, but remember that this should be done gently.
3. Do not apply oils, lotions or gels on the burn. It will be sufficient to apply a suitable ointment recommended by your doctor 2-3 times a day to the burned area. In this way, the area is prevented from drying out and the pain felt by the person is reduced.
4. Since pain may be felt in the burned area, it is very important to provide pain relief support.

First Aid for Second and Third Degree Burns

1. Help the person get rid of the flames and put out the fire on him.
2. Immediately cease contact of the injured person with the burning material, as swelling and deep skin damage may occur in burned areas. Remove hot or burned clothing. If clothing is stuck to the skin, cut or tear it off. Remove items such as jewelry and belts.
3. Immediately apply to the nearest health center by immersing the burned area with cold water.

First Aid for Acid Burns

Eliminate the factor causing the burn and rinse the acid burnt area under cold water for at least 10 minutes to remove the acid from the skin.

Quickly remove clothing and accessories that come into contact with the chemical. Make sure that the chemical does not spread from clothing to the skin.

Cover the burned area.

Apply to the nearest health center immediately.

Situations Requiring Physician Control

If the following conditions are observed, a doctor should be consulted without delay: – Leakage of the injured tissue, severely increasing pain, redness and swelling – Large and non-healing burns within two weeks – Serious scars on the burned area.

How Are Burns Treated?

First Degree Burns

Minor or first-degree burns can often be treated at home. In these cases, recovery is observed within a few weeks. After first aid, the burn area should be dressed with a sterile cloth and burn ointment. In cases of inflammation and pain, pain relievers can be used to relieve pain. At least once every 10 years, as burns may cause tetanus Having a tetanus vaccine is also protective against burns, as in many cases. Regardless of the degree of the burn, moisturizer should be applied to the burned area after healing is achieved.

Second and Third Degree Burns

In cases of second and third degree burns, after first aid intervention and medical evaluation, an appropriate treatment plan is created according to the type and degree of the burn. Drug therapy, regular dressing and surgical intervention can be given as examples of methods used in burn treatment. The main aim of the treatment is to alleviate and control the pain caused by the burn, to prevent the infection and to remove the dead tissue from the body.

At the same time, restoring the function of the tissue is one of the issues emphasized in the treatment. In addition to all these, treatment methods that require long-term follow-up such as physical therapy and rehabilitation are applied to the patient in severe burn cases. The methods used in the treatment of damaged burns are as follows: • Antibiotic drug therapy • Cleaning and repairing tissues by dressing• Measuring the loss of sensation in the tissue and restoring the sensation in the tissue by stimulating the burned tissue• Anti-anxiety medication as severe pain may occur after healing in severe burns• Respiratory aid for patients who have difficulty breathing and have swollen throat due to the burn

Physiotheraphy

In cases where the burn affects the parts of the body with joints, physical therapy exercises can be applied. Thanks to the applied physical therapy methods, the flexibility of the joints can be regained. At the same time, these exercises increase coordination skills and muscle strength.

Treatment with Skin Graft

Skin graft; It can be defined as the regeneration of damaged tissue caused by burns that penetrate deep into the skin tissue with healthy skin tissues. Tissues to be used for this procedure can be obtained from donors.

Treatment with Reconstructive Surgery

Thanks to plastic surgery applications, also called reconstructive surgery, scars caused by burns can be eliminated.

Coping with Post Burn Trauma

Especially in cases of second and third degree burns, injuries in visible places such as hands and face can be quite challenging both physically and mentally. Therefore, it is critical for the person concerned to receive emotional support from his/her close circle and to resort to psychotherapy methods when deemed necessary. In addition, meeting and bonding with people with similar stories during this period is an important factor that positively affects the treatment.