Burns and Poisons

Three Degrees of Burns:	Superficial burn – skin is red and is sore. (e.g. Sunburn)       Partial Thickness burn – skin is red with blisters and is painful.     Full Thickness burns – black waxy colour, nerves have been burned.
Six Main Types of Burns:	Cold – caused by ice. Wet – caused by hot fluids. Dry – caused by dry heat like fires. Chemical – e.g. bleach. Radiation – e.g. Sunburn. Electrical – caused by electricity.

The main treatment for burns is covering the affected area in WATER for ten – fifteen minutes. All burns on people, which are bigger than their own hand, or are intermediate or deep degree burns should be sent to the hospital. For people with burns to the mouth and throat you should give them short sips of water.

DO NOTS OF BURNS:

1. Do not burst Blisters or touch the injured part.
2. Do not remove stuck on clothing.
3. Do not apply ointments lotions or fats.
4. Do not apply stick plasters or cotton wool on the burn.
5. Do not overcool the casualty as this can lead to hypothermia.
6. Do not touch a person who has been a victim of an electric shock as you could injure yourself.
   
   

   Note: if a person is in contact with high voltage electricity, you must remain 18 meters (20 yards) from them and contact the emergency services and inform them of the incident.

POISONS: are substances that if taken in sufficient quantities can cause temporary or permanent damage to the body.

If someone has swallowed a poison you should bring them to hospital with the details of the exact amount and the product they have taken. You should never make somebody to get sick.

Poisons can act either locally or generally on the body. Locally is where it reacts at the site of the burn e.g. food passage or hand. Generally is where it affects the central nervous system and can interfere with breathing and your heart action.

ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK: This is a severe allergic reaction within the body to a poison, e.g. with bee and wasp stings.

Levels of Responsiveness

Nervous System:

It is made up of the brain, the spinal cord and nerves. It carries signal to and from the brain to all parts of the body. It controls the activity of the involuntary muscles e.g. the blood vessels.

   

    Motor Neurons: carry messages from the brain to different parts of the body.

    Sensory Neurons: carry messages from the parts of the body to the brain.

Unconsciousness:

It is an interruption to the brains normal activity.

Recovery Position:

A casualty is placed in the recovery position when they are unconsciousness and it is to ensure an open airway and to prevent them from choking on their tongue or vomit.

Head Injuries

Concussion:

This is the shaking of the brain caused by a violent blow to the head. It can be recognised by a loss of memory of events leading up to the incident, headache and dizziness. You treat this by placing the person in the recovery position, monitoring vitals and calling an ambulance. This can develop into compression.

Compression:

This is where pressure is being placed on the brain. It can develop immediately after the incident or days later. It will result in a worsening in the level of response, unequal pupils, hot flushed face and slow breathing and pulse. Urgent transportation is required.

Skull Fracture:

It can lead to compression and concussion. There may be a soft depression in the skull or swelling, and there may be fluid coming from the nose or ears which is a straw colour or can also be a thin watery blood fluid.

Epilepsy:

It is a disturbance in the electrical activity in the brain. There are two types: minor epilepsy (Petite Mal) and major epilepsy (Grand Mal). The minor epilepsy can involve slight twitching and switching off. Major epilepsy is when a casualty goes into violent and reoccurring seizures. Your main treatment is to protect the casualty from injuring themselves and also to call an ambulance.

Infantile Convulsions:

These are fits in young children aged 1 - 5, which can be cause by infections and fevers. You try to keep them cool by sponging them with tepid water and remove their clothes. You reassure the parents and call an ambulance.

Stroke:

This is where the blood flow to a part of the brain is impaired by a blood clot. There may be a sudden headache, drooping lip, loss of movement on one side of the body, a slow pulse and they may seem drunk as they are confused.

Diabetes:

This is where the body is unable to regulate the sugar level in the body. There is Hyperglycaemia where the sugar level is too high and they have to take insulin and there is Hypoglycaemia where the sugar level is too low and they need to take more sugar e.g. Lucozade or chocolate.

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Copyright © 2007 Irish Red Cross Kanturk-Millstreet Branch
Last Update: 23/07/2008 22:18