Lesson 11 GIVE FIRST AID FOR BURNS

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Combat Life Saver
Lesson 11GIVE FIRST AID FOR BURNS
Compiled and edited by, 2LT John C. Miller, PA-C
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Lesson 11GIVE FIRST AID FOR BURNS

• INTRODUCTION
• If a casualty is being burned, you must first
  eliminate the source of the burn in order to
  protect both the casualty and yourself. Once the
  immediate danger has been removed or controlled,
  check the casualty for breathing, control any
  major bleeding, and take measures to control or
  prevent shock.

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GIVE FIRST AID FOR BURNS

• TASK
• Identify the proper procedures for treating a
  casualty with burns.
• CONDITION
• Given multiple-choice items pertaining to burns.
• STANDARD
• Score 70 or more points on the 100-point written

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CLASSIFY BURN AS TO TYPE

• Burns can be classified by cause and by severity.
  Burns can result from thermal, electrical,
  chemical, or radiant sources. They are usually
  rated as being first, second, or third degree in
  severity.
• Causes
• Thermal burns are caused by heat. They can be
  caused by a flame, a hot object, steam, or the
  fireball from a nuclear explosion.
• Electrical burns are caused by an electrical
  current passing through the body, such as from
  coming into contact with a "live" electrical
  wire.

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CLASSIFY BURN AS TO TYPE

• Chemical burns are caused by liquid or dry
  chemicals such as ammonia, caustic soda,
  quick-lime, or white phosphorus (WP).
• Radiant energy burns can be caused by lasers,
  electric welding arcs, ultraviolet light, and
  microwaves. The primary danger is to the eyes.
• Severity
• First degree burns -- The skin is red and painful
  like a sunburn, but blisters are not present.
• Second degree burns -- The skin is red and
  painful blisters are present.

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CLASSIFY BURN AS TO TYPE

• Third degree burns -- The skin layers are
  destroyed and underlying fat, muscles, and/or
  bone may also be damaged. The burn area may not
  be painful because the nerves have been
  destroyed, but the surrounding second and first
  degree burn areas may be painful.

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PUT OUT FLAMES

• If the casualty's clothing is on fire, cover the
  casualty with a large piece of nonsynthetic
  material (such as a wool or cotton blanket) and
  roll the casualty on the ground until the flames
  are smothered.
• If nonsynthetic material cannot be obtained
  quickly, get the casualty to the ground and have
  him roll on the flame until it goes out.
• Do not use synthetic materials such as nylon and
  rayon because they may melt and cause additional
  injury.

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REMOVE A CASUALTY FROM ELECTRICALCURRENT

• If the casualty is lying on an electrical wire,
  assume the electrical wire is carrying electrical
  current and can be a danger to yourself as well
  as to the casualty.
• Do not touch the electrical wire with your hands.
• Do not touch the casualty since the current can
  pass from the wire and through the casualty to
  you.

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REMOVE A CASUALTY FROM ELECTRICALCURRENT

• Stop the Current
• If the electrical current can be turned off
  quickly, such as flipping a switch, turn it off
  before removing the casualty from the wire.
• Treat the wire as though it were still carrying
  current even if you think you turned off the
  current.
• If it is quicker to separate the casualty from
  the wire, remove the casualty from the wire and
  administer aid first.

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REMOVE A CASUALTY FROM ELECTRICALCURRENT

• Separate Casualty and Wire
• Two-rescuers Slide a dry rope, dry clothing, or
  other material which will not readily conduct
  electricity under the casualty's body and lift
  the casualty from the wire. Have a second person
  use a wooden limb or other long, nonconducting
  object to push the wire away from the casualty.
• One rescuer Wrap dry rope or similar material
  around the casualty limb or limbs and drag the
  casualty away from the wire.

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REMOVE A CASUALTY FROM ELECTRICALCURRENT

• Check for Breathing
• Check the casualty's respiration after you have
  separated him from the current. Administer
  mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if needed.

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REMOVE CHEMICALS THAT CAUSE BURNS

• Liquid Chemicals
• Pour as much water as possible over the burned
  area.
• If a sufficient amount of water is not available,
  use any nonflammable fluid to flush the area.
• Dry Chemicals
• Use a clean, dry cloth to brush off loose
  particles on the skin and flush the skin with as
  much water or nonflammable liquid as possible.
• Do not flush dry chemicals unless water or other
  nonflammable fluid is available in large amounts.
  When combined with water, the chemical may change
  into an active, burning substance.

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REMOVE CHEMICALS THAT CAUSE BURNS

• White Phosphorus
• White phosphorus burns when exposed to air.
  Quickly smother the flame with water then cover
  the area with wet material or mud to prevent air
  from reaching the white phosphorus. Keep the
  material covering the phosphorus wet and occluded
  from air. Get medical help or evacuate the
  casualty.
• Do not attempt to remove the white phosphorus
  particles from the casualty's flesh.
• Do not use grease or oil on the white phosphorus
  burn since they may cause the body to absorb the
  poisonous particles.
• Do not use copper sulfate.

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REMOVE CHEMICALS THAT CAUSE BURNS

• Fallout
• Brush off loose radioactive particles sticking to
  the casualty's clothing and skin and flush the
  skin with as much water as possible.
• Chemicals in the Eye
• Flush the eye with water as quickly as possible.
• Position the casualty's head with the eye to be
  flushed lower than the other eye. This keeps
  chemicals from the eye being flushed from flowing
  into the other eye.

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REMOVE CHEMICALS THAT CAUSE BURNS

• Hold the casualty's eyelid open.
• Pour the water gently into the eye. Pour from the
  inner edge of the eye (end closest to the nose)
  to the outer edge.
• Continue to flush the eye with water for at least
  20 minutes.

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TREAT RADIANT ENERGY (LASER) BURNSOF THE EYE

• Laser burns cause an immediate decrease in the
  ability to see.
• Protect the casualty from additional exposure to
  the radiant energy source and keep the casualty
  out of bright sunlight.
• The casualty's eyes do not need to be bandaged,
  but he may feel more comfortable if a dark cloth
  or loose bandage is placed over his eyes if he
  does not need to walk or continue to perform his
  mission. If a bandage is applied, bandage only
  the involved eye.
• Evacuate the casualty when the mission allows.

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TREAT SKIN BURNS

• At the time of the burn, apply copious amounts of
  water to the burn site.
• Expose Burned Area(s)
• Cut and gently lift away any clothing covering
  the burned area.
• Do not pull clothing over the burned area.
• Leave any piece of clothing that sticks to the
  burned area in place.
• If you are in a chemical environment, do not
  expose the wound. Apply the dressing over the
  casualty's clothing.

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TREAT SKIN BURNS

• Remove Jewelry
• Remove any jewelry from the burned limb and put
  it in the casualty's pocket. The jewelry which is
  not removed now may have to be cut off later if
  the limb swells sufficiently.
• Dress and Bandage Burned Area(s)
• Apply a field dressing over the burn wound and
  secure the dressing using the attached tails.
• If the burn is an electrical burn, find and dress
  both the entry and the exit burn wound. The sole
  of the foot is a common location for the exit
  burn.

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TREAT SKIN BURNS

• If the burned area is large, use the cleanest
  material available to cover the burned area.
• Do not try to clean the burned area before
  applying the dressing.
• Do not apply any grease, ointments, or
  medications to the burned area.
• Do not break any blisters that have formed.
• Check for Shock
• Fluid lost through burns is a cause of shock.

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TREAT SKIN BURNS

• Take appropriate measures to prevent shock or
  control shock.
• If the casualty has second and third degree burns
  on 20 percent or more of his body, fluids should
  be administered intravenously.
• If the casualty is not in shock and is not
  nauseated, give him small amounts of cool water
  to drink.
• Get Medical Help
• Seek medical help or evacuate the casualty, if
  practical.
• Electrical burns can be far more serious than
  they first appear since most of the damage is
  done to the interior of the body.

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GIVE FIRST AID FOR BURNS

• CLOSING
• A casualty with serious burns should receive
  intravenous fluids and be evacuated as soon as
  possible. If the burns to the skin are minor, the
  casualty should be evaluated by a medical person
  when possible since the burn is an open wound
  which can easily become infected if not treated.
• This lesson is tested on the written examination.

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Questions