…..nerve endings become damaged. The skin will quickly become red and may blister or peel, depending on the severity of the burn. As a burn deepens, the colour of the skin will also change as more layers are damaged. While still evident in parts, the redness will be replaced by what is often described as a white waxy look. A full-thickness burn where all layers of the skin are damaged whilst painless will often appear blackened or have a look of charcoal.
You may see the presence of clear fluid seeping from the burn site that may be accompanied by swelling. The person injured will often display signs of shock, complaining of feeling cold, nauseous, appearing unsteady, and feeling light-headed. They may also vomit and seen to sweat.
- Stop the burning.
- Cool the site of the burn.
- Cover the burn.
REMEMBER S.T.O.P.
STOP and assess the scene.
THINK, have I got the necessary equipment available to manage this emergency. Has anybody called the emergency services?
OBSERVE, are there any dangers to me, bystanders the victim?
PROTECT yourself at all times and keep re-evaluating the dangers throughout the emergency.
Support help and advice is available from the awesome people at the Burns Support Group Charitable Trust. Click on the link.
Tomorrow we will continue with our look at Burns….
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Currently, there are temporary changes to the steps to be followed in resuscitation. These can be found in the video below or by clicking here to see the New Zealand Resuscitation Council temporary guideline recommendation.
Click the link to go to the New Zealand Resuscitation Council Covid-19 recommended modifications for delivering resuscitation whilst the pandemic remains a threat. Click play to see a short video outlining CPR modifications that should be followed during the pandemic.
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Acknowledgement
Data and information are fact-checked against various recognised sources, including the New Zealand Resuscitation Council, Health Navigator New Zealand, St John, and other recognised entities specialising in the specific subject content. It should be noted that variances in protocols exist and where necessary are identified.