Nursing care for burn patients

Under supervision

- Prof. Dr. Mohamed Latif, CEO of the Egyptian Health Council

 Dr. Kawthar Mahmoud, Head of the Egyptian Nursing Syndicate - Member of the Senate

Supervised by

Dr. sherif wadie, advisor to the minster of health for emergency and urgent care

Prepared by 

A.  Dry heat: fire flame

b. Moist heat: hot water or steam

2-   Radiation Natural radiation such as sunlight, artificial radiation such like the radiation of cancer treatments.

3-   Electricity.

4-   Strong chemicals (strong acidic or alkaline materials)

➡️Depth : This depends on the degree of the burn, as third degree is more dangerous than second degree

➡️ Location: The face, hands, chest, and genital area are considered some of the most critical parts of the body. This is due to their sensitivity and the presence of nerves and blood vessels.

➡️ Age : Children and the elderly (due to weak immunity).

➡️ Chemical burns: These are burns caused by the body being exposed to some caustic chemical materials such as concentrated acids or strong alkalis. These burns are characterised by being corrosive and puncturing to the body and penetrating deeply

·  Prevent burn dirt and contamination

·  shock treatment

Its symptoms : 

1.  Redness of the skin at the site of the burn .

2.  Redness is often accompanied by swelling .

3.  Having pain .

Causes of first degree burns:

-   Overexposure to the sun

-   Simple contact with a hot pan or spillage of hot water

-   Exposure of the skin to water vapor or small amount of chemicals.

First aid for minor burns:

•  Move the injured person quickly away from the fire

•  Remove your watch or any jewelry

•  Immerse the burned area in cold water for 10 minutes or until the pain disappears.

•  No hospital needed

1. Cool the burn area: This can be done by placing the burned part under cold (not icy) running water, such as tap water, submerging the burn in a container of cold water, or applying cold compresses to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain subsides.

2. Cover the burn area: Use a sterile gauze bandage to cover the burn, ensuring not to apply the gauze tightly to avoid putting pressure on the burned skin.

3. Administer a pain reliever: Provide an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.

However, if the burns affect large areas of the hands, feet, face, thighs, buttocks, or a major joint in the body, these cases require immediate medical attention or a visit to the nearest hospital.

notes:

Cooling the burn site prevents swelling of the site by stopping more heat from reaching the skin at the burn site .

1. Use cold water to cool the burn site, and do not use ice on the burn site, as it can increase the burn and damage the skin .

2. Place sterile gauze on the burn site and avoid placing cotton or any type of fabric that may stick to the burn site .

3. Do not put egg whites, butter, or toothpaste on the burn

4. Follow up on the burn site, which often heals on its own. However, if any signs of infection are noticed, such as increased pain, redness, swelling, or if it is accompanied by a high temperature, a doctor must be consulted .

Symptoms:

It is characterized by the appearance of blisters, visible swelling, severe pain, subcutaneous infiltration, and plasma oozing through the damaged skin layers.

First aid for 2^nd degree burns:

• Move the injured person away from the heat source.
• Remove any clothing over the burned area.
• Immerse the burned area in cold water to reduce pain (cooling the tissues this way helps lower the temperature of the tissues adjacent to the skin).
• Do not use ice or iced water as it can cause tissue damage.
• Dry the area afterward with sterile bandages or a clean, ironed, and cool cloth.
• Cover the burn with Vaseline gauze followed by a dry bandage, ensuring not to remove or puncture the burned tissues.
• Change the bandage every 1–2 days or if it becomes soaked with plasma fluid.
• Watch for signs of infection, such as fever, unexplained pain, or pus.
• Second-degree burns on the face or neck, or burns larger than 3 cm, require medical attention.

In third-degree burns, the burned area appears waxy white or blackened. The victim does not feel pain immediately after the burn because the nerve endings are damaged.

• Do not remove clothing from the burned area to avoid tearing the skin.
• Do not apply cold water or medication to the burn.
• Place a clean, moist piece of gauze on the burn.
• Take the victim to the hospital immediately.
• If the injury is on the foot or hand, elevate it above heart level to reduce blood flow.
• If the burn is on the face, monitor for any breathing difficulties.

Secondly, burns are classified based on the surface area of the affected part:

1.  Minor Burn: Covers less than 15% of the body surface area in adults and less than 10% in children.

2.  Moderate Burn: Covers 15–25% of the body surface area in adults and 10–20% in children.

3.  Severe Burn: Includes burns affecting the head, circumferential burns involving the limbs, chest, genital area, and joints. In such cases, the victim must immediately go to a burn center for appropriate treatment.