Burn wound (for soccorista)

Don't get burned!
A lot of people are needing treatment for burns from hot tear gas containers and fuel fires, but most burns can be prevented. Take special care around children, to store flammable chemicals and matches where they cannot reach them.

Tear gas containers

 * Don't pick up hot tear gas containers unless you have heat-resistant equipment. You can burn your hands badly.

Molotov cocktails

 * The jelly inside will stick to skin and burn. Avoid molotov fires.

If you are burned

 * First, remove the source of the burn.
 * Stop, drop, and roll
 * or brush off dry chemicals
 * or (most likely) flush with water
 * but be careful not to get soaking wet. Even in warm weather you can get dangerously cold, because of damage to your skin which regulates body heat.


 * Then, decide how serious the burn is and if you need help right away.
 * If you were burned around your nose, mouth, or neck, or have trouble breathing, you need immediate help.
 * If you were burned badly to the hands, feet, face, or genitalia, you need immediate help.
 * If the burn is large or goes all the way around a body part, you need immediate help.
 * If you have any broken bones, you need immediate help.

Minor burns that do not form blisters (1st degree)
To help ease the pain and lessen the damage caused by a minor burn, put the burned part in cold water at once. No other treatment is needed. Take aspirin for pain.

Burns that cause blisters (2nd degree)

 * Do not break blisters.
 * If the blisters are broken, gently wash with soap and clean water. Cover with a sterile non-stick (Telfa) gauze.
 * Never smear on grease or butter.

'''It is very important to keep the burn as clean as possible. Protect it from dirt, dust, and flies.'''
 * If signs of infection appear-- pus, bad smell, fever, or swollen lymph nodes-- apply compresses of warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt to 1 liter water) 3 times a day. (If possible, add 2 tablespoons of bleach to the salt water.) With great care, remove the dead skin and flesh. You can spread on a little antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. In severe cases, consider taking an antibiotic such as penicillin or ampicillin.

Deep burns (3rd degree)

 * Deep burns that destroy the skin and expose raw or charred flesh are always serious, as are any burns that cover large areas of the body. Take the person to la Doctora or a health center at once. In the meantime wrap the burned part with a very clean cloth or towel.
 * If it is impossible to get medical help, treat the burn as described above. If you do not have non-sicck (Telfa) dressings, you can sterilize a little Vaseline by heating it until it boils and spreading it on a piece of sterile gauze. If you cannot do that, you can leave the burn in the open air, covering it only with a loose cotton cloth or sheet to protect it from dust and flies. Keep the cloth very clean and change it each time it gets dirty with liquid or blood from the burn.
 * Give penicillin.

Never put grease, fat, hides, coffee, herbs, or feces on a burn.
 * Covering the burn with honey helps prevent and control infection and speed healing. Gently wash off the old honey and put on new at least twice a day.

Special precautions for very serious burns
Any person who has been badly burned can easily go into shock because of combined pain, fear, and the loss of body fluids from the burn.
 * Comfort and reassure the burned person. Give him aspirin for the pain and codeine if you can get it. Bathing open wounds in slightly salty water also helps calm pain. Put 1 teaspoon of salt for each liter of cool, boiled water.
 * Give the burned person plenty of liquid. If the burned area is large (more than twice the size of his hand), make up the following drink:
 * To a liter of water add:
 * half a teaspoon of salt
 * and half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda.
 * Also put in 2 or 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey and some orange or lemon juice if possible.

The burned person should drink this as often as possible, especially until he urinates frequently. He should try to drink 4 liters a day for a large burn, and 12 liters a day for a very large burn.
 * It is important for persons who are badly burned to eat foods rich in protein, such as beans, milk, eggs, fish, and meat. No type of food needs to be avoided.

Burns around the joints

 * When someone is badly burned between the fingers, in the armpit, or at other joints, gauze pads with Vaseline on them should be put between the burned surfaces to prevent them from growing together as they heal.
 * Also, fingers, arms, and legs should be straightened completely several times a day while healing. This is painful but helps prevent stiff scars that limit movement. While a burned hand is healing, the fingers should be kept in a slightly bent position.