Indonesia
Burn Treatment: First Aid and Medical Care
Burns are injuries to body tissue caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. Prompt and proper treatment is crucial to minimize tissue damage, prevent complications, and accelerate the healing process. Let's first get to know the different types of burns.
Types of Burns
Burns are not only caused by fire. Sun exposure, chemicals, and even electric shocks can also trigger damage to skin tissue. Recognizing the type of burn is important to determine the appropriate and optimal treatment.
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Thermal Burns: Caused by heat sources such as fire, boiling water, or hot objects. The severity varies, ranging from redness to deep tissue damage.
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Chemical Burns: Occur from contact with acids, bases, or other corrosive chemicals. This type of burn requires special handling to neutralize the chemical and prevent further damage.
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Electrical Burns: Electric shock can cause burns to the skin and underlying tissue, and can even damage internal organs. Treatment must be carried out by professional medical personnel.
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Radiation Burns: Occur from exposure to radiation, such as sunlight (sunburn) or radiation therapy. Symptoms can include redness, blisters, and peeling skin.
Burn treatment must be adjusted according to the type and severity of the burn. Proper first aid, such as cooling the burn with running water and covering it with a sterile bandage, can help reduce tissue damage. However, professional medical treatment is still needed, especially for extensive or deep burns.
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First Aid for Burns
First aid measures that can be taken include:
- Stop exposure to the source of the burn. If it's fire, extinguish it immediately. If it's a chemical, rinse with running water for 20 minutes. If it's electrical, disconnect the power source first.
- Cool the burn. Run cool water over the burn for 10-20 minutes. Do not use ice cubes, as this can worsen tissue damage.
- Remove jewelry and tight clothing. This is to prevent swelling and impaired blood circulation.
- Cover the burn. Use a non-stick sterile bandage to cover the burn. Do not break blisters.
- Give pain relievers. If necessary, give paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce pain.
Medical Treatment for Burns
Medical treatment for burns depends on the type, degree, and extent of the burn. Some medical actions that may be taken include:
- Wound cleaning. The doctor will clean the burn and remove dead skin tissue.
- Topical treatment. The doctor may give antibiotic cream or special ointment to accelerate wound healing.
- Administration of drugs. The doctor may prescribe pain relievers, antibiotics, or other medications as needed.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This therapy can help increase oxygen flow to damaged tissue and accelerate healing.
- Skin grafting. In cases of extensive and deep burns, skin grafting may be necessary to close the wound and restore skin function.
- Rehabilitation. After the burn heals, rehabilitation may be needed to restore body function and prevent disability.
It is important to remember that burn treatment must be adjusted to the condition of each individual. Seek immediate medical attention if the burns are extensive, deep, or accompanied by symptoms of infection. Consult with a specialist plastic surgeon for the proper treatment of burns at Hermina Podomoro Hospital.
Source:
- Mayo Clinic. (2023). Burns: First aid. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-burns/basics/art-20056649
- World Health Organization. (2024). Burns. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/burns