Every parent is well aware of the risks of fire and warns
the children not to go close to the bonfires, however, they
are often unaware of the great hazards of flying sparks
which can ignite and catch their clothing.
All over the world it is agreed upon that cooling with water
is most important at the early stages of treatment as it
helps stop the complications of burns from developing. It is
most important to request cooling as the first stage
treatment, because not every hospital gives time for
cooling. It is therefore vital to insist on total cooling
even in Intensive Care.
Cutting short the cooling time causes complications in the
healing process as the initial heat which started the burn
can continue to cause damage internally until it
dissipates.
How to cool? Immediately run water directly onto the burn or
soak the burnt area. It is preferable to use a physiological
saline solution. If cooling at home, add a little salt to
the water (a flat teaspoon of salt to five cups of water --
liter) and a few drops of polydin or other antiseptic can
also be added.
When cooling, if the victim begins shivering or turns blue,
stop the cooling for a while, wrap him up warmly and heat
the room if necessary (in winter a must). Over cooling can
cause parts of the body to turn blue. If the victim turns
blue at lips or fingernails or elsewhere, this can be
dangerous and emergency medical help must be sought
immediately.
In winter one should resort to cooling with lukewarm water
or wet compresses rather than from a direct flow of water,
so as to prevent danger of over-cooling and turning blue.
After the fist half-hour of cooling in water, wet compresses
can be used instead. In summer it is advisable to add ice on
top of the compresses from time to time, especially in fire
burns. (Ice is not recommended for babies.)
Intensive cooling is especially effective in relieving the
pain and in healing burns. Compresses should be changed
every few minutes as they become warm and lose their cooling
effect quickly.
The cooling method will help even if not applied
immediately. However for better results, start the cooling
as soon as possible. Keep cooling for a few hours. Short
cooling is insufficient to release the internal heat which
becomes deeper, damaging internally and causing terrible
complications such as swelling, blisters, infections, skin
grafts and scarring.
After a few hours of cooling, the burns become more
superficial and even partially disappear.
The heat often causes excruciating pain but even in acute
burns, where no pain is felt because there is damage to the
nerves, one should still resort to cooling as the first
stage of treatment.
Long term cooling will prevent scarring and lessen the need
for skin grafting. However, it is again important to stress
the danger of turning blue from freezing.
Of course the treatment should be under medial
supervision.
Another useful treatment is a Burnshield dressing that
provides first-aid treatment of burns and is a convenient
means of cooling. It moistens, cools, and soothes for four
hours, after which it should be changed. The dressings also
minimize trauma.
The second stage of treatment (under medical supervision)
may need oral antibiotics, warm washes, ointments, wet
saline dressings, vitamin E oil, vitamin C, physiotherapy
and massage.
Nutrition rich in proteins, liquids, fruit juices and tinned
pineapple are important and aid in building healthy skin
tissue.
A segulah in Peleh Yoetz to say Bircas
Kohanim 3 times.
Refuah Shleima to all sick. May we not need these
treatments. Further information is forthcoming at telephone
(03) 677-7146.
