Severe Burns, blisters and/or cuts to the skin (Including acid attacks) - Medtick
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Severe Burns, blisters and/or cuts to the skin (Including acid attacks)

What is it?

Severe Cut to the skin

Do not wait phone an ambulance if:

  • One can’t stop the bleeding longer than 15 min after apply pressure?
  • Balance and dizziness problems?
  • Cut is long and/or deep and/or does not close upon body movement?
  • If anything deep embedded in the skin?
  • Animal bite and/or human bite and/or sharp blade/ and/or puncture wound and are experiencing skin infection symptoms?
  • Bleeding from an artery – blood from an artery comes out in spurts with each beat of the heart, and is bright red and usually hard to control?
  • One experience persistent or significant loss of sensation near the wound or you’re having trouble moving any body parts?
  • Severe cut to your face – urgent treatment required in prevent scarring?
  • Cut on genitals?
  • Cut on the palm of one’s hand and it looks infected?
  • Possibility a foreign body is still inside the wound (glass)?
  • One has had a puncture wound (knife, blade, sharp object)?
  • One has been shot by a gun and/or pistol?
  • The wound is very large or the injury has caused a lot of tissue damage and/or fat /muscle or bone is visible due to burn and/or wound?
  • Red streaks near the wound and/or showing sign of septicaemia?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if one have or develop:

  • Sepsis
  • Septicaemia
  • Toxic shock syndrome
  • Hypothermia
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Tetanus
  • Dehydration
  • If losing too much blood
  • Shock (when the organs in the body is not receiving enough oxygen):
    • Rapid heart rate (rapid pulse)
    • Rapid breathing
    • Dilated pupils
    • Pale, cool skin
    • Sweating (diaphoresis)
    • Yawning
  • If shock occurs (whilst awaiting for an ambulance):
    • Lay the person down (if their injuries allow it) and raise and support their legs
    • Use a coat or blanket to keep them warm, but do not cover their face or the burnt area
    • Do not give them anything to eat or drink

    • How to Treat Shock

  • Large or deep burns bigger than the affected person’s hand?
  • Burns of any size that cause white or charred skin?
  • Burns on the face, hands, arms, feet, legs or genitals that cause blisters?
  • All chemical and electrical burns?
  • If exposed to smoke or fumes and are experiencing
    • Coughing/ Breathing difficulties?
    • Sore throat?
    • Facial burns?

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

Third  and Fourth degree burns

Third-degree and fourth degree burns (severe)

    • Burns that affects all layers of the skin
    • Fourth degree burns Includes all of the symptoms of a third-degree burn and also extends beyond the skin into tendons and bones

Cause

  • Scalding from hot, boiling liquids
  • Touching something hot i.e.  hot pan, iron , hot machinery
  • Chemical burns i.e. strong acids , paint thinner, dyes, gasoline, cleaning agents
  • Electrical burns
  • Fires, including flames from matches, candles, and lighters
  • Excessive sun exposure and/or sunbeds and/or U.V radiation
  • Allergic reactions
  • Abuse of solvents
  • Treatments: Radiation i.e. from x-rays

Symptoms

  • Waxy and white colour skin?
  • Charred (black) skin?
  • Dark brown/black coloured skin?
  • Raised and leathery texture skin?
  • Blisters that do not develop?
  • Widespread thickness with a white, leathery appearance?
  • One may have no pain as it has damaged the nerves?

Chemical and electrical burns require immediate medical attention because they can affect the inside of the body, even if skin damage is minor.

These burns can damage:

  • Muscles (this can lead to break down of muscle fibres and electrolytes to be released in the blood leading to kidney failure)
  • Nerves

General tips

First aid for burns

It is serious if or when :

  • Larger than the size of the casualty’s hand On the face, hands and/or feet and/or a deep burn

If serious, call for an ambulance for emergency medical help.

  • Stop the burning process as soon as possible.
  • This may mean removing the person from the area, dousing flames with water, or smothering flames with a blanket (Don’t use ice, creams or gels – they can damage tissues and increase risk of infection).
  • Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burnt area of skin.
  • However, don’t try to remove anything that’s stuck to the burnt skin as this could cause more damage.
  • Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water (not cold or refrigerated) for 20 minutes, as soon as possible after the injury (Don’t use ice, creams or gels – they can damage tissues and increase risk of infection).
  • Cover the burn with cling film. Put the cling film in a layer over the burn, rather than wrapping it around a limb or another clean, non-fluffy material, like a clean plastic bag (this will protect from infection).
  • Treat the pain from a burn with paracetamol or ibuprofen (if suitable)
  • Sit upright as much as possible if the face or eyes are burnt.

NHS Choices and St John’s Ambulance

Detailed Information

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