Ailments and Situations - Burns |
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Description If you accidentally touch a hot dish, spill boiling water, or brush against the iron, you will be left with a painful burn (tissue injury) that now requires your attention. The majority of burns occur in the home and many could have been prevented. In the case of a house or chemical/electrical fire, however, burns require immediate medical attention.
Symptoms and Signs: There are three categories of burns, where severity is determined by the amount of tissue affected and the depth of injury. Burns range from the relatively benign to the acutely serious.
First-Degree Burns First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin. They are painful, sensitive to the touch, swollen, moist, and appear as red patches on your skin -- similar to sunburns or scalds. Burned area whitens (blanches) when slightly touched. There are no blisters.
Second-Degree Burns Second-degree burns extend into the underlying layers of the skin. They are more painful and appear as reddish-white blisters filled with a clear, thick fluid. The burn is painfully sensitive to the touch and may blanch.
Third-Degree Burns Third-degree burns are the most serious and require immediate medical attention. All skin layers and underlying tissues, such, as muscles, are destroyed. They leave your skin charred and waxy white or creamy in colour. As the burn may be pale, it may appear as normal skin in light-skinned people. Skin does not blanch when touched. Third-degree burns rarely hurt due to damage to the nerve endings that send messages to your brain. Hairs in the burned area can be easily pulled from the root.
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