After a Cape Town nine-year-old was raped, doused in petrol and set alight, the Cape Argus asked the child’s medical team for advice on burns similar to those suffered by the little girl.
QUESTION What is the first thing victims or their carers must do if a person is burnt through the use of a substance like petrol?
ANSWER: Should a child or adult sustain a burn injury involving flames, the victim should stop, drop and roll to put out the flames. The heat from a fire, hot water or electrical burn will continue to burn the tissues long after the offending contact is removed and it is essential to stop the burning by keeping the burnt body part under cold, running tap water for 20 minutes.
Cover the wound with clingwrap or a clean sheet and seek medical assistance. Do not put ice or any other things like egg, toothpaste, turmeric or Vaseline on it.
Q: What processes then begin at hospital? What are the immediate priorities?
A: The first priority is to see if the airway is open and not in any danger of closing up. The smoke inhaled during a fire or the mere heat from the fire can cause injury and swelling of the airway with rapid closure and suffocation. Warning signs would include a hoarse voice, noisy breathing or difficulty in breathing. High flow oxygen will be provided and an artificial airway may be required to avoid airway closure.
Thereafter breathing will be assessed and the lungs will be inspected for burn injury or related damage from rib fractures or blast injury, depending on the circumstances around the fire.
Q: How is the skin treated?
A: Sometimes when skin is burnt deep, usually with fire or contact burns, the skin becomes parchment-like, rigid and hard. When an arm, leg or the trunk is burnt all around, this can be so tight that blood supply is impaired, leading to limb loss. The movement needed for breathing can be so restricted as not to allow proper oxygenation of the blood.
HOW TO PREVENT BURNS
* Invest in a cordless kettle. View your kettle as a potential weapon.
* Put all hot drinks out of reach.
* Hot cooking oil and hot porridge should be kept out of the reach of children.
* Do not carry urns or pots of boiling water around while there are toddlers on the floor or children running about.
* Turn pot handles away from the front of the stove.
* Put candles in a deep glass bottle with sand in the bottom so it will be put out if it falls over.
* Repair all faulty electrical plugs and leads.
* Report stolen cover plates on power poles or substations with broken fences or locks.
* Do not leave children unsupervised near matches, candles, lighters or fireworks.
* Lock away paraffin and other flammables, including “safe” gels.
* Do not touch electrical injury victims before they are removed from the current. Use a stick or non-conductor to avoid rescuer injury or death.
* Do not cover braai fires with sand. The heat stays in the sand for hours and will burn the feet of anyone who walks over it. Pour water over fires and coals.
* Do not cook eggs in a microwave oven. The shell can explode and cause severe face and eye injuries.
* Chinese noodles cooked in microwave ovens become extremely hot and can cause severe burns.
* Run cold water in the bath first, then add hot water. Set your geyser to low temperatures (about 55ºC).
* For more information, go to www.childsafe.org.za/burns.htm. - Cape Argus