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Melissa Chappell Burns Article
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First Aid Burns Kits
Everyone should have a first aid kit, and that kit should contain items to treat burns. But in the workplace, first aid burns kits are necessary for the treatment of minor burns in that occur while on the job in the workplace.
Someone that works with caustic chemicals or flame must have a first aid burns kit. Not only are there products for first aid to cuts and scrapes, but there has to be equipment and products to specifically render first aid to burn victims.
A first aid burns kit must contain sterile gloves, scissors, tape, non-stick sterile dressings, gauze, cold packs.
Many prefilled first aid burns kits come with water-gel dressings of various sizes that are good to use places that need to be wrapped. The kit should contain an antiseptic hand cleaner for the one that is rendering first aid.
In case of burns to the eyes, the first aid burns kit should contain sterile oval eye pads. There should be at least 1 liter of sterile water for irrigation.
Burns are classified by the amount of tissue damage. The least severe is a first degree burn, the next is second degree, and the most serious is a third degree burn that involves the structures under the skin.
The person that has a first or second degree burn can take an over-the-counter analgesic such as acetaminophen or aspirin to help relieve the pain.
Second degree burns of the face, private areas, as well as the hands and feet should be seen by a physician. All third degree burns are serious and need emergency care. Blisters will form with second degree burns as fluid seeps in between the epidermis (outer layer) and the dermis (inner layer) of the skin.
Do not attempt to break the blisters. an opening in the skin allows for bacteria to enter the burned area. There is increased risk of infection if the blisters have been broken.
The first aid burns kit should never take the place of the primary measures taken to render first aid to burns. Always, if it is a thermal, electrical or chemical burn, remove the source of the burning. Flush the burn with water for about 15 minutes.
Some experts say to flush the burn in 5 minute increments up to 15 minutes.
With severe burns there is always a possibility for the victim to go into a state of shock. Shock is a life threatening state. the victim may complain of dizziness, feel cold and clammy to touch.
This happens when the victim is not getting enough blood flow to heart, lungs and brain. First response is to prevent this from happening. Lie the victim down and elevate the feet and legs above the heart.
A first aid burns kit is a separate kit from a first aid kit for cuts and scratches. It is specialized to render first response to a burn until the victim can be seen by a physician.
Not all burns will require first aid from the first aid burns kit, but the kit should be available if it is needed. You can purchase first aid burns kits online, and they may be available at your local pharmacy.