While burns can affect the very state of a person, no one can imagine the suffering and the hurt other than the victim himself. Burns can happen due to various factors like chemical, industrial, electrical, friction, scalding, radiation, fire, heat etc. Any burn can be diagnosed through its intensity and penetration level. While outer damages require first aid and simple treatment, any injury that affects the deep tissue and is able to hurt all the skin layers require intensive treatment and medical care. Third degree burns are able to reach the subcutaneous tissue and lead to symptoms like
• Dry, waxy and stiff leather skin kind
• Swelling
• Brown or yellow color skin tone
• Lack of pain and sensation because the nerve endings get affected and destroyed
While any burn injury can be debilitating a deep tissue injury can become difficult to heal without medical care. Since the epidermis is destroyed it cannot grow itself and requires a deliberately slow process of healing with the help of treatments and medications.
The degree of burn can lead to shock to the person which needed to be treated before any other exercise. Even respiratory diseases can happen that need to be tackled with the right gear. The person however needs to be given first aid and right precautions so that the injury does not spread and cause infections to other areas.
• Call for medical help is an utmost necessity that is the first requirement in such cases. While the person is supposed to be kept out of shock, getting the affected part submerged in cold running water can be very helpful. However ice should be avoided at any costs as it can aggravate the shock to the affected.
• With a fresh clothing that is sterile the affected part should be covered all over so that there is no reaction from any foreign substance.
• If the hands are the place that is affected due to third degree burns, they should be held higher so that the blood is able to flow smoothly without any restriction. Placing a pillow below the arm and keeping the hand above the heart keeps the blood flowing. If however the leg or the feet is affected, they should also be elevated to help the place to be circulated with blood in a smooth manner.
• Helping keep the person in still motion can also be very helpful. Avoiding any unnecessary motion like letting them walk can be very hurtful and complicate the situation.
• When the face is affected, the person should be checked for respiratory problems and should be helped with mouth to mouth resuscitation where every instruction is followed to avoid any blockage to the air ways.
• Getting the person fast to the hospital can help avoid secondary problems like pneumonia, infections and other complications.
A specialist doctor is able to diagnose the problem and take effective measures to help contain the third degree burns and devise the right method of treatment.