What to do if you get a chemical burn?

Burns do not always occur due to exposure to heat such as fire and exhaust. Chemicals can also cause burns that need to be taken seriously. So if you get burns, how do you deal with them? Check out the full review here.

What are the causes of chemical burns?

Chemical burns will irritate or break down tissue. Usually this exposure results from direct exposure to substances or exposure to vapors. Exposure to these chemicals can occur anywhere, whether at home, at work, at school, and others due to accidents or it could be due to assault.

Most of the chemicals that can cause injury are very acidic or very alkaline chemicals. For example hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. Examples of other chemicals that can cause chemical burns include:

• Car battery acid
• Bleaching agent
• Ammonia
• Chlorination products in ponds
• Cleaning agent

This is a sign of chemical burns

• Redness, irritation
• Pain or numbness in the affected area of ​​the body
• Blisters or blackened skin in one area
• Vision changes when chemicals enter the eye
• Gag

What should I do if I get a chemical burn?

Handling of this wound must be done as early as possible. Immediately call the hospital number or emergency number 119 to get emergency services. While waiting you can take some rescue actions.

1. First, keep away the chemicals that cause burns.
2. Rinse the affected area under running water for 10-20 minutes (not too briefly). If a chemical comes into contact with the eyes, rinse the eyes continuously for at least 20 minutes before seeking further emergency care. Immediately rinsing the injured area with plenty of water is essential to dissolve any adhering chemicals.
3. Remove clothing or jewelry or fabrics that are contaminated with chemicals on the body. Release with care, do not allow this chemical to stick to other areas of the body that are not exposed to the chemical, or to other people.
4. To keep the wound from getting worse, wrap the burnt area in a bandage or clean cloth loosely.
5. If the burn is not too deep, you can use a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen). If the wound is very heavy, wait for medical personnel to come to take further action. Or immediately to the nearest emergency room.

As soon as possible go to the doctor if this happens

When you or your family get burns, watch the signs closely. When this happens, go to the doctor immediately and don't delay.

• The burn is quite large, more than 7 cm
• Burns occur in large joints such as in the knee
• The pain does not go away with pain medication
• The appearance of signs and symptoms of shock, shortness of breath, dizziness, and weak or decreased blood pressure

What treatments will the doctor give?

The treatment given during a burn will vary from case to case. Depending on the severity of the damaged tissue.

• Antibiotics
• Anti-itch drugs
• Debridement (wound care measures), carried out cleaning or removing dead tissue
• Skin grafts, by attaching healthy skin from another part of the body to the skin affected by the burn
• Infusion

If the burn is very severe, other special care is needed:

• Skin replacement
• Pain healing
• Cosmetic surgery
• Occupational therapy to help restore normal mobility
• Counseling and education