SLC21/WK6: Understanding Burns: Types, Causes, and First Aid Responses

Q1:Write a detailed first aid response for the following scenario: You witness a child accidentally spilling hot tea on their arm. What immediate steps will you take? What actions will you avoid? Include considerations for burn severity and explain your reasoning.

• First aid for burns caused by spilled hot tea.

the first step I should do is to stay calm so I can act quickly and effectively. as long as the child is away from the heat source to prevent further burns. after that carefully remove clothing or accessories around the burned area, unless they are attached to the skin, to immediately avoid further damage.

Wash your hands using running water

The next step is to cool the burned area. Place your child's arm under cool running water (not ice) for 10-20 minutes. This will help reduce the temperature of the skin, stop tissue damage, and relieve pain. Do not use ice as it can damage the skin further.

Wipe with a clean cloth without any lint

After cooling, gently pat the affected area dry with a clean cloth and cover with a sterile bandage or a clean, lint-free cloth. Avoid using ointments, butter or other household products that can worsen the wound.

Using a sterile bandage

Immediately take the name to a health facility if the wound looks severe, covers a large area or causes large blisters, avoid breaking infected blisters. With this step we can help reduce damage and provide proper treatment.

- Actions that we need to take and should be avoided for burns.

• In case of burns caused by hot tea, there are several actions that should be avoided to prevent further damage or complications:

• using ice or very cold water: ice or very cold water can cause further tissue damage due to the extreme temperature difference, especially in second or third degree burns.

• applying ointments, or oils: these can worsen the burn, trapping heat in the skin and increasing the risk of infection.

• to prevent blisters; if the wound causes blisters, avoid breaking them because blisters protect the underlying skin layer from infection.

• applying cotton or a fluffy cloth; the small fibers can stick to the wound and make the condition worse.

For minor burns (first degree), cooling is sufficient, whereas for severe burns (second or third degree), immediately consult a medical service for further treatment to avoid complications such as infection or permanent scarring.

Q2: "A worker in a warehouse suffers an electrical burn after touching exposed live wires. The burn site shows entrance and exit points, with damage to the skin and underlying tissues. What are the immediate first aid actions you should take, and what critical steps should you avoid? How does this differ from treating thermal burns?"

_first aid for electrical burns for example.

stop contact with the electrical source: turn off the power if possible, or use a non-conductive tool (such as wood or plastic) to keep the work away from the electrical wires. make sure we do not touch the victim with bare hands.

check victim's response: evaluate the victim's consciousness. If unconscious, check for breathing and pulse. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary.

Call for medical attention: Electrical burns often cause internal damage that is not visible, and call for emergency medical help as soon as possible.

protect the area: identify the entry and exit points of the burn. cover with a clean cloth or sterile bandage, but do not apply ointment or ice to the wound

monitor other conditions: check for additional injuries such as fractures from seizures or falls.

_actions to avoid:

do not use ice, as this can worsen tissue damage.
do not attempt to treat internal damage yourself.
differences with thermal burns: electrical burns often cause more extensive internal damage to muscle tissue, nerves and organs, while thermal burns affect more of the superficial layers of the skin. electrical burns also have a higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias, so they require immediate medical monitoring.

Q3: "A worker in a factory accidentally spills a strong acid on their arm, causing immediate pain, redness, and blistering. A colleague tries to wash it off with water but notices the burn spreading."

a.Identify the type of burn.

• a. identification of types of burns. burns are chemical burns, caused by direct contact with corrosive materials such as strong acids. symptoms such as pain, redness and blisters indicate tissue damage due to chemical reactions

b.What went wrong during the initial first aid?

• b. errors during initial first aid: for example, a coworker tries to clean the wound with water without ensuring that the chemical is fully diluted. If the amount of water is insufficient, the chemical can spread to other areas, which can worsen the burn.

c.Propose the correct first aid steps and explain why each step is important.

• c. correct first aid steps as follows:

• 1.avoid further contact: stop contact with chemicals immediately. remove contaminated clothing or jewelry, but do so carefully to avoid spreading the acid.

• 2.rinse with running water. flush the affected area with running water and cool it for at least 20 minutes. and this will help dilute the chemicals and stop further tissue damage.

• 3.protect the skin: after rinsing, cover the wound with a clean cloth or sterile bandage without applying ointment or other materials.

• 4.avoid chemical neutrality. do not try to neutralize acids with bases because this reaction can produce heat that worsens the burn.

finally contact medical help: chemical burns require immediate medical evaluation because they can cause internal damage.
each of these steps aims to stop further damage, prevent the spread of chemicals, and minimize the risk of complications.

Q4: You are a first responder in a rural area. Two people are injured in a house fire: Person A has a large area of third-degree burns but is conscious and calm. Person B has second-degree burns on both legs and is in severe pain. You can only help one person immediately due to resource constraints. Whom do you prioritize, and why? Support your decision with medical and ethical reasoning.

In this situation, the priority of treatment is for person B, for example, with his second degree burns on both legs, even though he is in severe pain. Medically, second degree burns have a higher chance of recovery if treated immediately. And person A with third degree burns has deeper tissue damage, and these conditions often involve serious complications such as shock or infection that are difficult to treat in the field. Ethically, giving priority to victims with a higher chance of survival is a rational and responsible action, and ensures that rescue efforts can provide maximum results in an emergency situation.

Q5:bCreate an infographic on burn management. Include the following:

a.Types of Burns and Their Causes (Electrical, Thermal, etc)

b.Different types of burns (1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree)

c.First aid steps for minor and major burns

d.What NOT to Do During Burn First Aid." Use visuals and short explanations for each point.

- infographics about treating burns.

• types of burns and their causes such as thermal, electrical and chemical.
• severity of burns: 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree with simple icons and color codes.
• first aid steps for minor burns (eg, cool the wound with running water) and severe (eg, cover with a sterile cloth).
• actions that we should not do such as applying ointment, using ice or breaking blisters on the wound.
• this infographic is an example of how we should handle it.

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