What does a chemical burn to the skin look like and what to do? Rules for providing first aid for chemical burns. Principles for providing assistance for chemical burns.

Chemical burns can cause irreparable harm to human health.

Therefore, it is very important to be able to provide first aid to the victim. In most cases, the degree of damage and the consequences of the burn will depend on this.

It is important to understand the significant difference between chemical and thermal burns. For burns caused by chemical reagents, it is necessary to clearly know the antidotes that neutralize the effects of a particular chemical reagent. What to do in case of a chemical burn? How to treat a chemical burn? Is it possible to treat a chemical burn at home? Let's talk about everything in order - in this collection of material.

Chemical skin burn: features, symptoms, diagnosis

A chemical burn is a violation of the integrity of the tissues of the human body under the influence of chemical agents.

This type of burn often becomes more dangerous than a thermal burn. This is due to the type of aggressive chemical substance and the duration of action of the reagent. The process of cell destruction and chemical absorption may continue even after the chemical component is eliminated, which often makes it difficult to determine the extent of the damage in a timely manner.

Chemical burns occur as a result of non-compliance with safety regulations when working with chemicals or in accidents at home (intentionally or through negligence).

The external symptoms of chemical burns differ depending on the action of the chemical. Most often, acidic or alkaline drugs become the source of damage.

• When skin is exposed to alkali , the resulting scab is looser, with blurred boundaries. Alkaline liquids are able to penetrate deeper into the skin than acids, causing more extensive damage to soft tissues.
• When skin is exposed to acid , A dense, dry crust (scab) with clear contours forms at the site of the lesion.

Burns caused by exposure to chemical acids are mostly superficial. The name of the affected acid can be determined by the color of the affected skin.

• Upon contact with sulfuric acid, the skin first becomes white, then turns gray. With prolonged contact, the burn becomes darker, browner.
• Effect on skin nitric acid leads to a change in the skin to a yellow-green or brown-yellow color (depending on the duration of contact).
• After exposure of hydrochloric acid , the skin turns noticeably yellow.
• Burn caused acetic acid, becomes dark brown in color.
• Carboxylic acid causes whitening of the damaged skin area, which eventually changes to a brown color.

The degree of damage can be diagnosed as accurately as possible only after a few days (when the scab area begins to suppurate). The longer the effect of chemical components on body tissue and the larger the affected area, the more dangerous the burn is for human health and life. Therefore, in case of chemical burns, it is very important to provide first aid to the victim, and then immediately contact a qualified specialist. medical care.

It is in the hospital that, based on the nature of the existing injuries, the depth of penetration, the concentration of the chemical reagent and the duration of its exposure, the degree of the resulting chemical burn will be determined and treatment will be prescribed.

No less dangerous is the general toxic poisoning of the body by an aggressive chemical component. This is why it is sometimes so difficult to diagnose based on the area of ​​damaged skin, all Negative influence reagent on the human body and possible consequences.

In addition to skin damage, chemical burns can damage the eyes or internal organs, in particular gastrointestinal tract. Body areas with thin skin(face, skin folds, genital area) are more affected, since the thickness of the epidermis there is the smallest.

Degrees of chemical burns

There are 4 main degrees of chemical burns.

• Idegree

Only the top layer of skin is affected, and there is slight swelling and redness of the area. The burn is accompanied by moderate pain; treatment is carried out at home.

• IIdegree

With a second degree burn, not only the top layer of the skin is damaged, but also the lower tissues. The burn is accompanied by swelling, redness and the appearance of blisters with clear serous fluid. The level of pain and sensitivity becomes higher than in the first degree, but with a small burn area, the patient does not need hospitalization.

• IIIdegree

There is deep tissue damage and necrosis, right down to the fatty tissue. subcutaneous tissue. Small blisters with cloudy liquid, sometimes with blood, appear at the damaged area. The sensitivity of the skin is significantly reduced and the patient practically does not feel pain at the burn site. The victim needs hospitalization, since spontaneous healing of the wound often becomes impossible.

• IVdegree

The most dangerous degree, in which not only skin and muscle tissues, but also tendons and bones are deeply affected. Surgical care is provided in an inpatient hospital setting.

Rules for the treatment of chemical burns

There are a number of rules, the use of which in emergency situations will help to significantly alleviate the condition of the victim and reduce the effect of the reagent on the body.

• First aid for chemical burns should be provided without delay or fuss. You need to act calmly and judiciously. How well and correctly first aid is provided to the victim will determine the success of further treatment.
• It is especially important to know the rules of providing first aid to people working with chemicals. Indeed, in such situations the risks of getting a chemical injury are much greater.

• Knowledge of the basic antidotes listed below will help to quickly neutralize the active substance.
• After receiving first aid, the patient must consult a doctor to exclude possible Negative consequences after a burn.
• The main rule of first aid is not to harm the victim.
• The key rules for treating chemical burns, in addition to providing qualified first aid to the victim, boil down to drying the wound, treating it with antiseptics (to prevent suppuration) and using drugs that improve blood circulation and tissue regeneration processes.

First aid for a chemical burn

First aid for chemical burns can radically change the subsequent treatment process, both for the better and for the worse. Therefore, before providing assistance to the victim, you need to be 100% confident in your knowledge so as not to harm the injured person.

• First of all, in case of a chemical burn, it is important to stop the action of the chemical agent. Therefore, if the substance gets on clothing, it must be removed or cut immediately.
• If there are remnants of powdered chemicals on the skin, they are first shaken off the skin and only then the remnants are washed off.
• The damaged area of ​​the skin is thoroughly washed with running water, thereby reducing the concentration of the chemical, the depth of its penetration, cooling the skin and reducing painful sensations. The wound should be washed for 10 to 30 minutes.

The exception is burns caused by alkali, quicklime, and organoaluminum compounds!

• If the burn is caused by acid, affected area of ​​skin washed with 1-2% soda solution, and then apply a tampon soaked in ammonia solution(alcohol is diluted with water). You cannot “extinguish” a burn with an alkali solution - this will lead to a new burn, only one already caused by the alkali. The effect of dilute acid is more dangerous than concentrated acid. This is due to the fact that highly concentrated acid instantly causes protein coagulation, forming a dense scab, preventing the burn from deepening. Exposure of the skin to highly toxic hydrofluoric acid, used, for example, for etching glass, is especially dangerous.
• Alkali burn dangerous due to its rapid penetration deep into tissues. Such a burn Do not immediately rinse with water. The hydroxyl group of the alkali under the influence of water will contribute to deeper penetration of the chemical into human tissue. Affected area of ​​skin washed with 1-2% solution of acetic or citric acid(not concentrated).
• Burn caused by quicklime Also cannot be treated with water, since the interaction produces slaked lime (a strong base). In this situation better place Apply grease to the burn and consult a doctor.
• Burn caused by pesticides and herbicides, process ethyl alcohol or gasoline. After providing first aid, the victim should be taken to the hospital for administration of an antidote.
• Burn area caused by phosphorus, immerse completely in water to prevent spontaneous combustion of the reagent. After this, having removed the phosphorus particles present on the skin, apply a bandage soaked in a weak solution. potassium permanganate.

• Phenolic burn neutralized by solution alcohol or vodka.

• After washing and neutralizing the chemical reagent, apply to the burn site sterile dry dressing.

Cotton wool cannot be used for bandages!

• In case of severe pain, the patient can be given painkiller medicine.
• Before the ambulance arrives, the victim needs to drink as much liquid as possible (for example, tea or mineral water).

Treatment of chemical burns

• The main rule for treating chemical burns, including at home, is to use medications only after consultation and examination by a doctor. For safety and positive effect, you should not self-medicate, risking your health and life.
• To treat chemical burns to the skin, it is recommended to lubricate the affected area with special medicinal ointments ( Fusiderm, Solcoseryl). Burns caused by chemicals require subsequent cell regeneration and blood supply, which is what the action of the above ointments is aimed at.
• Such products also have an excellent restorative, disinfecting, healing and drying effect. drugs, such as Bepanten, Panthenol, ichthyol ointment, sea buckthorn oil.
• Alcohol-free iodine or preparations containing silver have an antiseptic, disinfectant, drying and analgesic effect.
• There are also folk recipes, promoting wound healing after thermal and chemical burns. These include compresses based on medicinal herbs: chamomile, oak bark, hop cones. Having prepared decoctions of these herbs, take a sterile bandage, moisten it and apply it to the wound for 15 minutes. You can prepare a medicinal ointment based on aloe leaves. To do this, take 2-3 aloe leaves, wash them, cut off the thorns and grind them into a “gruel”. Melted fat (pork or interior fat) is added to this mass; after cooling, the ointment is ready for use. Application folk recipes However, it is better to discuss with your doctor.

Xchemical burneyes

Chemical burns of the eye are one of the most difficult aspects from the point of view of treatment in ophthalmology. The danger of such burns is the possible weakening or complete loss of vision. This directly depends on the degree of damage, the depth of penetration and, directly, the type of chemical reagent that gets into the eye.

• In practice, a chemical burn of the eye with acid is considered less difficult than contact with an alkaline solution. This is explained by the fact that acids provoke instant coagulation of proteins and, therefore, not deep penetration of the reagent. The exceptions are nitric, sulfuric, and hydrofluoric acids. If alkali gets into the eye, the reagent destroys cells and can lead to tissue necrosis.
• Providing first aid for chemical burns of the eye comes down to copious rinsing of the eye and calling an ambulance. It is impossible to provide qualified assistance for such lesions at home.

Xchemical burn of the mouth or esophagus

• This type of burn is one of the most difficult to treat and restore.
• In such situations, it is impossible to provide first aid by neutralizing the chemical agent. Only if we are talking about a chemical burn of the oral cavity, you can try to rinse the oral mucosa with water before the ambulance arrives (if this is allowed by the type of chemical involved).
• The main task of providing first aid for burns of the digestive system is to urgently call an ambulance.

Xfacial burn

• The skin of the face is thin and sensitive, and with severe chemical burns, the chemical reagent can disrupt the regenerative function of skin cells, which leads to the formation of scar tissue. From an aesthetic point of view, such “traces” on the face are disfiguring appearance person, give rise to psychological problems. From a medical point of view, rough scars disrupt the motor and excretory functions of the skin.

• Nowadays this has become popular cosmetic procedure like peeling with fruit acids. If the dosage and concentration of the acid solution is incorrect, a shallow first-degree chemical burn may also occur. Such a cosmetic burn often requires a subsequent rather long course of treatment.

Thus, chemical burns pose a serious danger to human health and life, and therefore require qualified medical treatment. But, having information about the features different types burns and their treatment, you can provide first aid to the victim in time. Correct and timely actions before the ambulance arrives can significantly alleviate the patient’s condition and contribute to his speedy recovery.

Chemical burn, photo

Video: “First aid for a chemical burn”

A chemical burn is an injury to the membrane, and sometimes to the deeper layers of the skin, caused by exposure to an aggressive chemical reagent. It is quite easy to get damaged, because modern man even in living conditions There are quite a lot of chemicals around.

As a rule, household injuries are easily tolerated, since they are not deep. Industrial damage is much more severe, since in these cases people come into contact with more dangerous reagents.

Features of the disease

Children and men are more susceptible to injury than others. If in the latter case the risk is associated with professional activity, then children are injured in domestic conditions when they come into contact with acetic acid, household chemicals, etc.

Chemical burns caused by different reagents can be fundamentally different from each other. Some do not cause such deep injuries and occur more easily, affecting only the superficial layers.

Alkali and acid burns are considered the most dangerous, as they even affect deep tissues. Acid leads not only to destruction, but also to active dehydration, so the scab will be dry and dense. Alkalis penetrate deep into the skin very quickly, since they have the ability to dissolve fatty and protein components of cells. The scab with such damage is soft and has no boundaries.

Chemical skin burn (photo)

Read more about 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th degree chemical burns.

Degrees of chemical burns

For a chemical burn:

• I degree. Damage affects the epidermis. This is a minor injury, without many clinical manifestations, which does not carry any serious consequences.
• II degree. There is already damage to the dermis down to the papillary layer. The main nervous and vascular structures remain intact. Blisters are already present here, the symptoms (hyperemia, pain) become more pronounced.
• III a. Both the papillary layer and the elements involved in microcirculation are injured. There may be an open burn wound or a large blister containing bloody contents on the surface of the skin.
• III b. The skin is burned down to the fiber.
• IV degree. Deep tissues suffer - muscles, tendons, subcutaneous fat. Sometimes the injury even extends to the bone.

This video will tell you what a chemical burn is:

Causes

You can get injured due to contact with various reagents:

• volatile oils (phosphorus, bitumen);
• acid (acetic, hydrochloric, hydrofluoric);
• household chemicals;
• alkalis (barium, potassium hydroxide);
• chemical compounds (gasoline, pesticides);
• salts of heavy metals (zinc chloride, silver nitrate).

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the depth and extent of the lesion. It may include the following signs:

• pain,
• redness,
• bubbles,
• brown or dark wound.

The resulting scab will have a different texture, depending on the substance that caused the chemical burn. It will be moist if the substance is alkaline. This injury usually involves a large area of ​​skin. With an acid lesion, the damaged area is clearly visible, the scab itself is dry.

The skin tone may also change, depending on the substance acting on it.

Diagnostics

Much attention is paid to interviewing the patient or witnesses who saw the moment of injury, since it is possible to accurately determine how much damage the burn caused only after a few days. The depth and extent of the injury are also revealed.

Read below about chemical skin burns and their treatment at home, as well as in hospital settings.

Treatment

First aid

In case of a chemical burn, first aid must be provided in a timely manner. It includes a number of actions:

1. You need to remove clothing if it has become saturated with the reagent, and then wash it off the skin. It is best to expose the limb to a cold stream, since the liquid should drain from the area and not remain on the body. Wiping the affected area with a towel or even immersing it in the sink is strictly prohibited! It takes about half an hour to wash off the reagent, and if it is very aggressive, such as alkali, then it will take longer. It is also necessary to keep the affected area under the stream for a long time in cases where the substance was on the skin for about 15 minutes.
2. Next, monitor the sensations. If a burning sensation occurs, you need to repeat the procedure of washing off the reagent.
3. If you know what substance caused the burn, you can neutralize its destructive effect on the skin. So, if the injury was caused by acid, prepare a weak concentration of an alkaline solution (for example, from soda), and then wash the surface. If the cause of the pathology is alkali, then use a weak acid solution (lemon, vinegar). If the nature of the substance is unknown, it is better not to wash the skin with anything, only with water.
4. Subsequently, a bandage is applied to the affected area. It can be dry or soaked in novocaine solution. Ointments and antiseptics are not applied so as not to interfere with doctors determining the main criteria for a burn that influence treatment tactics - its degree and depth.

It is prohibited to wash the injured area with ordinary running water in cases where the burn was caused by organic aluminum compounds.

Physiotherapeutic method

Physiotherapeutic treatment is started in the later stages of healing. Physiotherapy simultaneously stimulates tissues for better regeneration and restores a person's defenses, improves blood flow and prevents microbial activity in the wound. To treat a chemical burn, the following types of physiotherapy are used:

• irradiation with infrared waves,
• ultraviolet or
• ultrasound.

Read below about which remedy to choose and how to treat a chemical burn at home and in a hospital setting.

This video will tell you what first aid is for chemical burns:

Medication method

Conservative treatment methods are usually used for injuries of degrees I, II, IIIa. Bandages are regularly applied to the skin, under which ointments or special antiseptic compounds are applied. This may be sufficient if the burn is limited. In cases where it affects large areas of tissue, additional infusion therapy, detoxification and antibacterial measures are carried out. All procedures take place in the burn department.

Treat the damage topically to create good conditions healing, accelerate regeneration, and at the same time prevent the development of pathogenic microflora in the wound. At first, for chemical skin burns, it is better to use ointments with a light texture (water-soluble). These include:

• Oflocaine,
• Levosin,

These medications will help clear the wound of necrotic matter and speed up recovery. For mild burns you can also use:

• Bepanten,
• Agrosulfan,

If the damage is deep, then ointments will be used at the very last stage, when healing begins actively.

Operation

Surgical intervention is performed not in the early period, but in the late period. The method of operation is selected individually. There are several of them:

1. Amputation. It is used only for very severe injuries when saving the limb is not possible. Sometimes this intervention is resorted to when necrosis spreads to healthy areas of tissue or if other techniques have not brought any effect.
2. Necrotomy. The intervention technique involves excision of the resulting scab, which helps restore general blood supply to the damaged area. This is the only operation that can be performed urgently, since it is designed to prevent the spread of necrosis.
3. Necrectomy used for 3rd degree burns if the area is limited. The wound is thoroughly cleaned of dead tissue, which has a beneficial effect on overall recovery, as purulent processes are prevented.
4. Staged necrectomy is the intervention described above, but the operation is carried out in parts. The gentle technique helps to better tolerate the removal of extensive lesions.
5. Skin transplantation. If the injury covers a large area, the patient undergoes a transplant of his own or donor skin.

Prevention of disease

Maintain safety when working with any chemical compounds. If the profession involves the need to use caustic acids, the employee must undergo special training.

To prevent household chemical burns you need to:

• keep all chemical products tightly closed;
• put containers in hard-to-reach places;
• Do not store aggressive substances near food and medicine;
• contact with toxic products only if the exposed surface of the body is protected;
• do not allow the compounds to evaporate, and if this happens, be sure to ventilate the room.

Complications

Some substances have the property of spontaneous combustion, which creates a danger of receiving additional. We must not forget that the compounds can be toxic. In this case, they will have an even more destructive effect not only at the site of the burn, but also on the entire body.

The most common complications that occur from chemical burns are:

1. Kidney dysfunction (2%).
2. Sepsis (1%).
3. Shock (6%).
4. Lung problems (2%).
5. Toxemia (15%).

Forecast

The prognosis is greatly influenced by the depth of the burn and a number of other features:

• aggressiveness and concentration of the reagent;
• how long was the contact with the substance;
• general health;
• amount of chemical;
• skin sensitivity.

With the first two degrees of burn, healing proceeds actively even without active drug therapy. The prognosis for grades III and IV injury is less favorable.

Dr. Komarovsky himself will tell you in this video what to do if a child has a chemical burn to the eye:

First aid consists of stopping the action of the chemical agent as quickly as possible. To do this, wash the affected area with plenty of running water for 20-30 minutes. If assistance is provided late, the duration of rinsing increases to 30-40 minutes. If damaged by phosphorus-containing preparations, it is necessary to immerse the burned surface in water. Then it is cleared of pieces of phosphorus with tweezers. After washing with water, the chemical residues are neutralized using solutions:

acid burns - 2% sodium bicarbonate solution, 5% sodium thiosulfate;

burns with alkalis - 1-2% solution of acetic, boric or citric acid.

burns with phosphorus-containing substances - 5% solution of copper sulfate (copper sulfate), potassium permanganate, 2% soda solution.

The damaged surface is covered with bandages. Do not use ointment for chemical burns. For pain, analgesics are administered.

Treatment is carried out according to the same principles as thermal burns.

Electrical injury

Electrical trauma is damage to organs and tissues of the body caused by exposure to electric current. Among all types of injuries, electric shocks range from 1-2.5%, with 10% of cases resulting in death. Electric current can have direct and indirect effects. In the case of direct action, a person is included in an electrical circuit; a number of changes occur in the body due to the thermal and electrochemical effects of the current. Indirect action is observed during short circuits; the resulting voltaic arc causes burns. Injuries from atmospheric electricity (lightning) are also possible.

Electrical shock is different from other injuries. Firstly, a person can be affected from a distance. Secondly, general and local changes develop in the body. Thirdly, disturbances are observed along the entire path of current passage in the human body.

Electrical injuries are divided into local (electrical burns) and general. However, they are often combined.

The severity of the damage depends on the characteristics of the electric current, the path it passes through the body and the condition of the tissues.

Current characteristics that determine the nature and severity of damage include current strength, voltage, and frequency. Voltages higher than 36 V and currents higher than 0.1 A pose a danger to humans. At a current strength of 0.5 A, fatal injuries are usually observed. There are low (up to 500 V) and high voltage injuries. Surprisingly, exposure to high voltage is less life-threatening than exposure to low voltage. Alternating current injuries are more dangerous than direct current injuries. The most dangerous frequency is 50 Hz/s. Therefore, alternating current damage from household networks (220 V, 40-60 Hz/s) poses a serious threat.

The most important factors are the duration of the current exposure and the path of its passage through the tissues (“current loops”). The most dangerous are the upper loops: “hand-to-hand”, “hand-to-head”, and also full loop"two arms - two legs." Involvement of the heart and brain in the electrical circuit leads to serious life-threatening disorders. The nature of the damage depends on the type of tissue; this is due to different fluid contents and, accordingly, different resistances (ohmic resistance). The skin has the greatest resistance, muscles and blood vessels have less resistance.

When current passes through tissue, electrical energy is converted into heat, causing burns. The degree of damage depends on the characteristics of the current, the duration of exposure, and the area of ​​contact with the current-carrying object. “Current marks” are formed on the skin at the entry and exit points. “Thermal seals” form in the muscles and vessels; necrosis, ruptures, and muscle detachments may occur. Sequesters form in the bones. Electrical marks can be detected on joints because they have high resistance. The passage of current through the brain, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord can cause swelling and bleeding. Local damage may not fully appear in the first hours after injury. Necrosis further develops due to damage to the feeding vessels.

The overall effect on the body is determined by damage to vital organs. Death can occur from respiratory or cardiac arrest. Stopping breathing can be caused by paralysis of the respiratory center or titanic spasms of the respiratory muscles. Cardiac arrest occurs due to dysfunction of excitability and conduction, resulting in the development of arrhythmia and cardiac fibrillation. Cardiac arrest is possible due to disruption of coronary blood flow and irritation of the vagus nerve. Damage to the central nervous system can lead to laryngeal spasm, convulsive syndrome, paralysis and paresis, and visual impairment. An increase in blood pressure is also noted. If the victim remains alive, all of the above changes are present, but expressed to varying degrees.

Chemical burns are damage to the skin using various chemicals. Statistics show that most often burns of this type affect the upper and lower extremities, body and head. Less common are injuries to the respiratory system or digestive tract. First aid for a chemical burn is very important; it should consist of complete regeneration of the pH level of the skin.

Types of damage

You can get such an injury for several reasons; they determine what to do in case of a chemical burn in the future and how exactly the first aid will be provided. may be a consequence of skin interaction with:

• salts of heavy metals;
• various acids;
• alkalis;
• all kinds of active chemicals.

To determine what exactly caused the damage, you need to pay attention to it external signs. During acid burns, the damaged area becomes covered with a white crust. After some time it turns brown or black. In case of a chemical burn of the skin with hydrochloric acid, the skin turns yellow; in case of injury with nitrogen, the color of the skin becomes yellow and acquires a brown or greenish tint. The skin's reaction to alkalis is manifested by the formation of a moist or gelatinous crust. If the injured area becomes infected, the skin becomes tight and dry after a few days. During an alkaline burn, fats are saponified and proteins are dissolved. This causes the formation of such a wound.

Providing first aid for chemical burns also depends on the severity of the injury.

Urgent Care

At home, first aid for chemical burns must be provided in the correct order. If everything is done according to special rules, then further treatment results will be as positive as possible.

The initial first aid actions for a chemical skin burn should be removing clothing and other items from the body that have come into contact with the aggressive substance. Next, you need to rinse the damaged area under cool water for 20 minutes. If the washing was not timely, then its duration should be increased to 35-40 minutes. Never try to remove the chemical using napkins or cotton wool. this procedure will cause even more harm.

If the injury occurred as a result of exposure of the skin to a powdered chemical, then first aid for such a chemical burn should consist of removing the substance from the wounded area, because some powdered chemicals. substances react with water and ignite, leading to vaporization or boiling.

Next, you need to secure the remaining chemicals in the wound. If the damage was caused by acids coming into contact with the human skin, then the wound is washed with a two percent solution of baking soda or soap and water. In the event that the cause of the injury was the interaction of alkalis with the skin, treatment must be carried out using acetic or citric acid.

When providing first aid and suppressing the reaction of carboxylic acids, you can use fermented milk products or drugs containing glycerin, and chemical. lime substances - a two percent solution of granulated sugar.

If the victim complains of severe pain, then one of the stages of emergency care should be taking a painkiller.

After first aid is provided for chemical burns, it is necessary to protect the area of ​​the injured skin from all kinds of infections. A gauze bandage is applied to the affected area (using cotton wool is strictly prohibited). The following actions should be carried out by doctors, whom it is advisable to contact if any injury of this type occurs.

Signs that require you to contact medical institution for emergency help:

• the victim faints, breathing becomes impaired and the skin color changes;
• aggressive substances enter the eyes, mouth or digestive tract;
• the burn area is quite large;
• pain does not disappear after taking an anesthetic;
• the wounds are deep and their area exceeds 10 cm.

Eye burn

Signs that determine:

• fear of light;
• excessive production of tears;
• cutting pain in this area;
• redness.

If you do not seek help from specialists in a timely manner, there is a chance of permanently losing your vision.

Providing first aid in this case should be as fast and high-quality as possible. The eyes are rinsed under running water for about twenty minutes; if the damage occurs due to interaction with alkalis, then milk can be used for the rinsing procedure. After this, urgently call an ambulance team, which will take all necessary measures to prevent all possible consequences.

Damage to the digestive tract

The following symptoms characterize:

• sharp pain;
• burning in the esophagus and stomach;
• severe pain in the throat and swelling in the mouth;
• vomiting with blood;
• Sometimes when vomiting, pieces of the injured mucous membrane come out.

In such cases, a weak vinegar solution is used to eliminate alkali chemicals. For acid burns, wash the stomach using a solution of ordinary soda. In this case, it is almost impossible to help the victim on your own, so immediately seek help from experienced specialists.

There are different situations in life when people around you or loved ones need first aid. This includes getting into an accident, frostbite, and electric shocks. A common problem is burns. This term refers to tissue damage caused by thermal, electrical, chemical or radiation energy. Today we will look at injuries caused by aggressive substances and first aid for chemical burns.

The need for first aid

Every person should know how first aid is provided. This topic is very relevant, because anyone can find themselves in trouble. This is confirmed by the classification below. People affected by burns are divided into several groups:

• persons injured due to their own negligence or inattention;
• accident victims;
• people who have suffered from the actions of criminals;
• rescue workers.

First aid for mucous membranes is very important. The sooner it occurs, the faster the further impact of traumatic factors stops. Thanks to first aid, serious consequences and even death are prevented.

General information about chemical burns

Chemical burns occur due to the negative impact of aggressive substances on the skin or mucous membranes. The following degrees of damage are distinguished:

• I degree - the affected area becomes swollen, redness of the skin is observed;
• II degree - on damaged and reddened skin, the upper layers of the dermis die (with a thermochemical burn, blisters containing a yellowish liquid appear);
• III degree - tissue necrosis (necrosis) begins in the affected area, which is manifested by a change in skin color;
• IV degree - deep tissues are affected (subcutaneous fat, muscles, bones).

Chemical burns: statistics and severity of injuries

Before considering first aid for chemical burns, it is worth noting that lesions most often occur in people through their own fault. Improper use of various substances at home and neglect of safety rules at work are the main reasons. Statistics show that chemical burns often occur due to exposure to acids (43% of cases). Much less often, lesions of the skin and mucous membranes occur due to the influence of alkalis (in 21.5% of cases).

The severity of chemical burns is not determined by exposure external factor, but by physicochemical changes occurring in the area of ​​injury. Substances that enter the body or mucous membranes destroy tissue until they are neutralized or diluted and removed. The severity of damage is determined by several factors:

• the nature of the chemical;
• duration of contact;
• concentration and volume of the substance;
• mechanism of action;
• degree of penetration into tissue;
• whether first aid for chemical burns and removal of clothing soaked in an aggressive substance was carried out in a timely manner.

General algorithm for providing medical care

When you see a person suffering from a chemical burn, you need to immediately call an ambulance, because only when you are in a medical facility is effective treatment and quick recovery possible. Then you should inspect the scene of the incident in order to understand whether it is dangerous to be here. If there is a threat to life, then you need to call rescuers and other emergency services.

If there is no risk to life, then you can approach the victim and provide first aid for chemical burns. If necessary, it is recommended to use personal protective equipment - masks, gloves. The first step is to remove the chemical-soaked clothing from the victim. This should be done carefully to prevent damage to other parts of the body.

Further assistance depending on the active substance

A person who does not have a medical education is not required to provide medical care. That is why in some cases you can refuse to take any measures. For example, if the substance that caused the burn is unknown, then it is best to wait for specialists to arrive. First medical aid depends on the cause of the chemical injury.

However, the ambulance team does not always arrive quickly when called. In order not to miss valuable time if a dangerous situation arises, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the rules for providing assistance in advance. They are listed below in the table.

Some features of first aid

The chemical is removed more effectively under a strong stream of water. However, this process is not quick. Chemical burns are washed for a long time:

• in case of acid damage, this process requires from 30 to 60 minutes;
• for damage caused by alkalis - several hours.

The wounds are washed until the burning sensation and pain decrease. If the chemical is powdery, then it is first shaken off and then the surface of the skin is treated with a suitable product.

Chemical burn to the eye: first aid

The eyes are an important organ for perceiving the world around us. Without them it is impossible to fully exist. That is why in case of chemicals it is necessary to provide first aid as quickly as possible in order to preserve vision. In case of contact with acid or alkali, the following actions are recommended:

1. Gently spread the eyelids with your fingers and rinse the eyes generously with cold and clean water. When rinsing, it should flow from the nose to the temple.
2. Cover your eyes with a blindfold. They must both be closed in order for movement to occur. healthy eye did not cause any discomfort in the area of ​​the affected eye.
3. After providing first aid, the blindfolded victim must be brought to a medical facility for further treatment.

When first aid is provided for chemical burns, the affected eyes are washed with more than just water. If acid gets in, sometimes use a 2% solution of baking soda. To prepare it, take a glass of boiled water and add to it baking soda on the tip of a table knife.

If alkali comes into contact, the eyes are washed with a 0.1% solution of citric acid. To prepare such a liquid, add a couple of drops of lemon juice to a glass of boiled water.

Common mistakes

People often make mistakes when providing first aid. They try to remove the chemical using wipes or swabs moistened with water. Such products should not be used for burns. The substance is not removed with napkins and tampons, but rubbed into the deep layers of the skin.

Very often people treat the affected areas with fat, egg yolk, dairy products, urine, washed with decoctions of medicinal plants. Experts, knowing this, recommend that people not use traditional medicine. First aid for chemical burns provided with the use of the above products can lead to infection of the burn wound. Infection can ultimately cause death.

The importance of visiting a medical facility

A person suffering from chemical burns must be taken to the hospital. The need for treatment in a hospital is primarily due to the fact that aggressive substances penetrate the bloodstream through the skin, wound surface, and mucous membranes and spread throughout the body, disrupting its functioning. For example, when inhaling certain concentrations of ammonia, bromine vapor, strong acids and other similar substances, irritation of the eyes, mucous membranes of the larynx, nasopharynx, hoarseness, pain in the throat, and nosebleeds are observed. Swelling of the larynx and lungs is possible, which is very dangerous.

The listed consequences are not the only ones. When absorbing oxalic or hydrofluoric acid, there is a high probability of developing hypocalcemia. If tannic, formic or picric acid, phosphorus or phenol enters the body, liver and kidney failure and depression of the central nervous system may occur.

Treatment of chemical burns in the hospital

The treatment regimen after first aid for chemical burns includes several components. It includes eliminating the toxic effects of aggressive substances. For this:

• methods are used to accelerate the removal of toxic substances from the human body;
• specific (antidote) therapy is used;
• therapeutic measures are carried out aimed at maintaining and restoring impaired body functions.

Treatment of the burn surfaces themselves is determined taking into account the degree of damage. In grades I and II, ointment dressings are used. Medical workers They use drugs that help accelerate tissue regeneration. If suppuration appears, then instead of ointments, bandages moistened with antiseptic solutions are used. For deep burns, surgical treatment is used. First, a necrectomy is performed, during which dead tissue is removed. Afterwards, skin grafting of the defect is performed.

Chemical burns are quite dangerous. You should not rely on traditional medicine or on the fact that everything will heal on its own. In any case, you should contact a specialist after providing first aid for chemical burns. He will refer you for treatment in a hospital or tell you what can be used to restore minor skin lesions.