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Burn
(Gubaa)
(Beeksisa: Bareffannon kuni afaani Inglizi
tiini. Yeroo gabaabatti gara Afaan Oromotti hikkama)
BURN
is one of the most common domestic accidents both in rural areas
and in a town where ever open fire is used.
Due
to the lack of observance or un awareness of the mothers who
are usually responsible for cooking of
food make small children more exposed to burn accidents than any
other in the family.
The
consequence of burn accident depends upon the degree of the burn and which
part of the body is most affected. The common domestic accident of
burn has made many children and adults in
Africa
deformed hands,
faces, arm, legs and even death.
NB.
Informing the mothers or the grown up in the family is the most important
prevention of burn accidents
TEACHING
THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN:
1) Keep
the children away from an unattended very hot water, hot coffee, hot
cooking pots and open fire. Constructing barrier around open fire is of
good prevention.
Burn
accidents have more of the socio- economical factors. Children who are
born and grown up in rural areas or who come from poor families are very
much exposed to burn accidents. The poor families lack the knowledge of
how to protect their children from fire, lack people to educate them and
they use much of their time to survive.
2) Mothers
or parents must always have watch full eyes on the movements of the
children.
3)
Educate the children about the danger of fire, matches and very hot
cooking pots.
Burn
accident is divided in three groups:
1) First
grade burn
2)
Second grade burn
3)
Third grade burn
BURNS:
CHARACTERISTICS
AND TREATMENT
(A)
-First grade burn damages the outer layer of the skin. It gives mild pain,
swelling and redness’ of the skin
Treatments:
1)
Immediately submerge the affected part in cold water. Cold water decreases
the pain.
2)
Place cold wet clothes on it until the pain decreases
3)
At the end cover with a clean dry dressing for protection
(B)
Second grade burn-
it burns the second layer of the skin
Characteristic:
-
skin blister,
-
red skin
-
swelling skin
-
extreme painful skin
Treatments:
-
immerse in cold water or apply clean wet clothes on the burned area. Cold
water helps to cool the burn and reduce the pain
-
When one is through with first stage, cover the burn area with dry clean
bandage
-
If it is available, contact with medical person
C)
Third grade burn-
is a serious damage where by the burn goes through the first, the second
and third layer of the skin. Such burn destroys the skin tissue and the
skin nerves cells. It loses the feeling of skin pain due to the damage of
the skin nerve.
Treatments:
-
Do not apply cold water or wet clothes on burn areas
-
Try to cover with clean bandage and immediate contact with medical person
or hospital
-
If the burn is on the face make sure that the breathing is ok. Burn
on the face might give breathing difficulties due to the breathing in of
the fire flame. Needs immediate contact of hospital or medical person
-
Generally third grade burn must always contact medical person
The
important difference between the first, the second and the gird
grade burn is that the first and the second grade burn is painful and the
outer skin layer
is affected but the third grade burn is not painful and the burn
goes beyond the skin layer, skin tissue and the nerve cells.
1.
Never put butter or greasy ointments on a burn. They seal heat into the
wound and may cause infection.
2. Always seek medical attention if...
* Victim is a child or elderly
* Burn covers more than one body part
* Burn is located on any sensitive area of the body (hands face, feet,
etc.)
* Burn is third degree
* Burn is caused by chemicals
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