|
Magazine
For a safe festival of lights
DR ANUP DHIR
|
How to avoid burns and what to do if an accident occurs.
|
Photo:RITU RAJ KONWAR
Not the right way: Never hold fireworks close to your face.
Burns occur when heat from any source destroy some or all of the different layers of cells that form the human skin. Respiratory injuries resulting from smoke inhalation are also burn injuries. With Diwali round the corner the risk of burns and injuries increase.
In burns, first the outermost layer is burnt and then the deeper layers. The depth depends on the degree of heat and the time for which the skin was exposed to the heat. Superficial burns heal rapidly; but if the skin is totally burnt, it cannot heal without a skin graft.
When superficial layers of skin are burnt, blisters form and clear fluid is discharged from the burnt surface. These burns are agonisingly painful but if complications due to infection are avoided they heal fast and do not leave behind scars.
Kinds of burns
Burns due to flames and chemicals are deep layered and do not affect the hair follicles and sweat glands. In this case many nerve endings get damaged so it is not very painful. These burns heal slowly and always leave a scar; therefore grafting is required. If done within the first week, especially for face, hand and joint areas, it will help prevent contractions.
Grafting involves taking skin from the healthy areas of the body, meshing it and putting it on the wound. The donor area also heals with new skin growth.
The most important thing about burn injuries is that 95 per cent are accidental and can be prevented with care and precautions. Public places and factories should install proper fire alarms, fire extinguishers and should also be built keeping the fire safety norms in mind. At home extreme care should be taken while inside working in the kitchen or playing outside with the crackers.
Call the Public Service Diwali Helpline No. 09312377554 for any emergency during Diwali.
Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t attempt to relight a dud. Let it sit for several minutes and then douse it with water.
Don’t light fireworks indoors.
Don’t carry fireworks in your pocket. They can go off prematurely even if not lit.
Don’t light fireworks in metal or glass containers.
Do read and follow the label directions.
Do light fireworks away from combustible materials like buildings, trees, dry grass and other obstacles.
Do bury your fireworks at least halfway down into a bucket of sand angled away from spectators and combustibles.
Do have water handy to soak fireworks, especially sparklers, after firing.
Do light a firework at arm’s length, standing back and keeping your face away.
Do arm yourselves in advance with information on how to administer First Aid kit to the injured person.
* * *
First Aid for superficial burns:
Remove the child from the heat source.
Remove clothing from the burned area immediately.
Run cool (not cold) water over the burned area (if water isn’t available, any cold, drinkable fluid can be used) or hold a clean, cold compress on the burn for approximately 3 to 5 minutes (do not use ice, as it may cause the burn to take longer to heal).
Do not apply butter, grease, powder, or any other remedies to the burn, as this increases the risk of infection.
If the burned area is small, loosely cover it with a sterile gauze pad or bandage.
Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
If the area affected is small, keep the area clean and continue to use cool compresses and a loose dressing over the next 24 hours.
Seek immediate medical help when the burned area is large, even if it seems like a minor burn. Don’t use wet compresses because they can cause the child’s body temperature to drop. Instead, cover the area with a clean, soft cloth or towel.
Seek immediate medical help when the burn comes from a fire, an electrical wire or socket, or chemicals. The burn is on the face, scalp, hands, joint surfaces, or genitals.
Seek immediate medical help when the burn looks infected (with swelling, pus, increasing redness, or red streaking of the skin near the wound).
The writer is a Senior Consultant in Cosmetic Surgery based in Delhi.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
|
