Thermal Injuries

Prevention



































                                                                                    Foto: Jan
Srnský

Damage of organism

§   as a result of working of extreme temperatures, radiation, electric current (including
lightning strike)



§   Local – burns, scalds, sunburn

§   General – sunstroke

Evaluating of local damage

§   degree and area of damage is important



Degrees of burns:



§   1. degree burn

§   2. degree burn

§   3. degree burn





Degrees of burns

Evaluation

Danger of shock



§   Child 0 – 2 years 2 % – 5 %

§   Adult 16 – 70 years 20 %













Burns

Burns









Burns

Burns – consecutive care

















First Aid – principles

§  technical First Aid

§  dialling of EMS

§  check on vital signs

§  then care about burned areas

§  cooling down only to 5 % of burned area of the body – location face, neck, hands, genitals

§  water temperature  4-8°C

§  sterile dressing







First Aid – process

§   extinguish fire, remove clothing (don´t remove any clothing that sticks to burn)

§   removal of heat conductors (rings, bracelets etc.)

§   cooling down (cold running water – 20 min.), don´t cool down the whole body!

§   sterile dressing

§   don’t break blisters

§   don’t lubricate any ointments

§   measures against shock



                   Doctor – visit with all consequential degrees - more than 1%











Sunstroke x Sunburn







Sunburn

§   working of sun-rays directly on head and nape



§   local hyperthermia of head, hyperthermia of brain and its covers



Symptoms:

high body temperature, by children – convulsions, unconsciousness



Sunstroke

§   working of closed surrounding environment, which is warmer than body temperature (boiler-rooms,
kitchens etc.)

§   general hyperthermia of organism -> the body can´t cool itselves



Symptoms:

headache, red – dry skin, high body temperature, loss of consciousness







Sunstroke + sunburn

First Aid



§   Lay the casualty down in a cool, shaded area

§   dialling of EMS

§   check on vital signs

§   cooling down – not on the chest!







Electric current accident

§   safety of the rescuer

§   technical First Aid:



 disconnect lead of electric current







First Aid:

§   always dial EMS – conscious casualty without obvious signs of injury, could have a serious
damage of the heart

§   conscious casualty – treatement of the burn, half-sitting position

§   unconscious casualty – not breathing – start CPR – GL 2005

Prevention of high voltage accidents

REMEMBER!

Even without direct contact with electric current, life – threatening injury could happen (step
voltage).