A burn injury is not always superficial.

When anything hot comes in contact

with your skin, it damages that part, resulting in death of skin cells. Skin
damage due to burns is dependent on the intensity of heat and the amount of
time for which the skin is exposed to heat. Therefore, the type and severity of
burn is identified by looking at how deeply the skin tissue has been damaged.
Burn injuries can be of 3 types: superficial burn, burn injury of partial-
thickness and burn injury of full-thickness.
Burn pain can be very severe at times and the nature of pain may also change
throughout the recovery process. Although with medical help you will be able
to get rid of the pain in a better way, there are several things that you can do
instantly to reduce burn pain (till the time you see a doctor). (Read: 8 home
remedies to get rid of burn scars/marks)
Burn injuries caused by direct heat can be cooled under tap water for 10-
15 minutes. Never use ice on a burn injury. It can cause additional damage
to the burnt area due to a sudden cooling effect.
2
nd
degree burn that develop blisters can be soaked in water for about 15
minutes. Dry gently. Do not wipe or break the blisters immediately. It might
cause an infection and increase pain.
Cover the injury loosely with a thin film or bandage to protect it against
infections that can delay healing time.
A simple dressing may be need if a blister has broken open. Dont cover
the injury directly with cotton. Use a simple gauze bandage soaked with
paraffin. Then cover with a cotton layer and wrap with a crepe bandage.
Check the dressing after 24 hours. Change the dressing, if needed.
Dont cover the burnt area with gel, cream or ointment until the burnt area
has completely cooled down
Burns caused by chemicals should be handled carefully. Check the label of
the chemical product before proceeding with first-aid.
For severe burns, see a doctor immediately.
Medication
Pain due to mild burn injuries can be managed by over-the-counter
drugs such as paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. But these should be taken with caution.
Topical medications are also widely available without prescription. But,
always read the labels and follow the instructions carefully. Do not apply
creams on infectious wounds. (Read: Ibuprofen why you shouldnt
pop these pills indiscriminately)
If over-the-counter medicines cannot relieve your pain, your doctor
might prescribe you stronger pain relievers, opioids, anti-anxiety drugs
or muscle relaxants. In case the injury acquires an infection, intravenous
antibiotics may be given.
Natural sources such as aloe vera gel and honey can give a soothing
effect. They are antiseptic in nature and also help the wound to heal
faster. Make sure you apply them only when the burn has neutralized
(when the redness, burning sensation and discomfort has significantly
reduced). (Read: 5 home remedies to soothe burns)
In some cases you mightbe administered a tetanus booster to avoid the
risk of infection. No matter what type of burn injury you have suffered,
its always better to see a doctor.
Fire
First Aid is what you do while you are waiting for help to come - that is why it is called
first aid - because it is what you do first and - what you do first can be very important.
1 Make sure that both the person who is hurt and you are safe (for
example, well away from the fire, or chemicals or power source).
2 Call for help.
3 Take off any clothes or jewellery around the burned part of the
body.
4 Use cold running water to cool the burn for 20 minutes - (under the
shower is good) - run the water gently, not fast.
5 DO NOT USE ICE
6 Do not break blisters
7 Putting cool wet cloths on is okay if there is no tap but they have to
be kept wet and cool!
8 Keep the person warm with extra clothes or a blanket on the unburnt
parts of the body.
9 See a doctor or health professional if the burn is bigger than a large
coin.
Other types of burns
(besides fire)
Chemical burns
(like the stuff thats used to clean ovens or drains,)
1 Use a cloth or brush to brush off any chemicals on the skin.
(Do not use your bare hands).
2 Wash the burned area with lots of cold water.
3 GET HELP.


Electrical burns

1 Do not touch the person until you know the power is off.
2 Turn off the power using a wooden spoon or broom handle. If your
house has a special safety switch then it will have already switched
off the power, but still use a wooden spoon to turn the power off at
the plug.
3 Wash the burned area with lots of cold water.
4 Get help.


Sunburn

If a large area of your skin is sun burnt, cool it down with a wet
cool cloth.

Ask your parents to get some special cream from the chemist to
put on the burnt area.

If you have a lot of pain, or you feel sick because of the sunburn,
you will need to go to the doctor for help.

How is a fracture caused?
A fracture occurs when the bones counter a strong force (usually stronger than they can bear).
Though the most common causes are trauma due to a fall/fight/vehicular accident etc., they may
also be caused when the bones get weak due to conditions like osteoporosis (in old age mostly),
brittle bone disease, osteomalacia etc.
How do I know its a fracture?
A loud snapping or cracking sound during an accident.
Severe pain in the injured area, which increases on trying to move that part of the body.
Inability to use that part of the body or loss of function.
Bruising, swelling and tenderness of the injured area.
An obvious deformity, such as the foot and leg rotated in the wrong direction in the case of
fracture in the leg, or a bent wrist in case of a wrist fracture.
A bone sticking out of the skin.
Numbness or change in the colour of the skin (bluish tinge) at the extreme end of the involved
part, such as the fingertips in case of fracture of the arms.
In case of a hip fracture, inability to put ones weight on the leg or on the affected side.
What first-aid can I give the person who suffers from a fracture in my presence?
Do no harm: Never move the patient or the affected part, unless you need to do so to prevent
further emergency.
Administer CPR: If the patient is unconscious, is not breathing and has no signs of a pulse,
administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. It is a systematic method of reviving a patient
using alternate mouth to mouth breathing and chest compressions. But be cautious if you
suspect the patient to have a fracture in the back of the neck. Then you should not try to tilt the
head of the person back to maintain the airway, instead try to thrust the jaw forward with the
help of your fingers.
Be alert about the persons breathing: If the patient is in shock, i.e. he/she faints or has
shallow and rapid breathing and his/her skin turn pale. Make the patient lie on his/her back and
raise the legs by a few inches. Avoid this if you think he/she has a fracture in the leg.
Try to stop bleeding: This could be done by applying pressure at the bleeding point with a
clean piece of cloth or gauze.
Do not attempt anything drastic: This means that you should not try to push back a bone that
has come out through the skin. Apart from causing immense pain, it could cause more damage
than good.
Help with the pain: Apply ice packs to the fractured area to reduce swelling and tenderness.
Snake biteIf a snake bites you
Remain calm.
Immobilize the bitten arm or leg, and stay as quiet as possible to keep the poison
from spreading through your body.
Remove jewelry before you start to swell.
Position yourself, if possible, so that the bite is at or below the level of your heart.
Cleanse the wound, but don't flush it with water, and cover it with a clean, dry
dressing.
Apply a splint to reduce movement of the affected area, but keep it loose enough
so as not to restrict blood flow.
Don't use a tourniquet or apply ice.
Don't cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom.
Don't drink caffeine or alcohol.
Don't try to capture the snake, but try to remember its color and shape so you
can describe it, which will help in your treatment.
Car exident
First Aid After A Car Accident
After a car accident, it is common for that the first respondent will not be a medical professional but another
road user simply lending a helping hand. These people are not medical professionals and in most cases have
only one thing in mind; saving the life of the accident victims. However, in their ignorance and rush to arrest the
situation, most of them often end creating more damage than they found because they do not administer the
proper first aid. In fact, in some cases they do not administer first aid at all. What is the right procedure of
undertaking first aid if you are among the first respondents in case of an accident?

To start with, you should turn off the ending of the car in question if it is still running as well as yours. You
should also ensure that you pull up the hand brake to keep the car from moving unnecessarily. During this
situation, it is of utmost importance to remain calm and think through what you want to do next. Panic at this
point only serves to worsen the situation and risk losing a life.

Afterwards, make the area safe by placing the requisite road signs to warn other road users of the accident. If
you do not do this, then another road user may fall victim to the same accident increasing the causality risk.
You should also ensure that you are safe as well. This means that you should park your car in a safe place and
wear any protective gear like reflective clothing and gloves whenever possible.

Once you have secured the accident area, you can now attend to the casualties in the vehicle. To start with
assess the situation and determine who to attend to first. You should also call the emergency services to
ensure that you have professional help attending to the victims. In most cases, emergency services will talk you
through the process until they arrive. During this period, it is important to be as accurate as possible while
relaying your information. It is important to reassure the victims and keep them from making any irrational
decisions that may inadvertently harm them. Do not allow smoking around the area or the use of food and
drinks.
Eye feaver
Bleeding from the eye - Trauma to the eye or head may cause bleeding of the eye. If you
suspect that the blood is coming from inside or is collecting in the eye, cover the eyes with a
clean cloth and dial 9-1-1, or go to the nearest emergency room. Be careful not to put any
pressure on the eyeball.
Try flushing the eye. Using your finger and thumb, gently pull the upper eyelid down over the top of the
lower eyelid. This should cause tearing and flush the object out. You may need to repeat this action
several times.
If tearing does not work, you may try flushing the particle out using cool water for as long as
necessary. This can be done in a sink, with an outside hose, or a glass of water that is contaminant-
free.
If you can see the object, you may try to remove it with a washcloth. Gently lift the upper or lower
eyelid, and use a clean, wet washcloth to wipe the object away. If this does not work, seek immediate
medical attention.
Faint
Fainting occurs when the blood supply to your brain is momentarily inadequate,
causing you to lose consciousness. This loss of consciousness is usually brief.
Fainting can have no medical significance, or the cause can be a serious disorder.
Therefore, treat loss of consciousness as a medical emergency until the signs and
symptoms are relieved and the cause is known. Discuss recurrent fainting spells
with your doctor.
If you feel faint
Lie down or sit down. To reduce the chance of fainting again, don't get up too
quickly.
Place your head between your knees if you sit down.
If someone else faints
Position the person on his or her back. If the person is breathing, restore
blood flow to the brain by raising the person's legs above heart level about 12
inches (30 centimeters) if possible. Loosen belts, collars or other constrictive
clothing. To reduce the chance of fainting again, don't get the person up too
quickly. If the person doesn't regain consciousness within one minute, call 911 or
your local emergency number.
Check the person's airway to be sure it's clear. Watch for vomiting.
Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement). If absent,
begin CPR. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Continue CPR until help
arrives or the person responds and begins to breathe.
If the person was injured in a fall associated with a faint, treat any bumps, bruises or
cuts appropriately. Control bleeding with direct pressure.