In addition to thermal burns caused by exposure to high temperatures on body tissues, chemical burns occur in everyday life and at work, when tissue damage occurs under the influence of chemicals.
Causes of chemical burns
In production, such an injury is most often associated with a violation of safety regulations or the occurrence of emergency situations.
Children often suffer in everyday life because, due to the carelessness of adults, they may spill or drink substances related to the household chemicals or concentrated nutritional supplements. It should be noted that among indoor and outdoor plants there are potentially dangerous ones, since their juice can cause a chemical burn. There are also suicide attempts using aggressive substances.
Symptoms and degree of damage from chemical burns largely depend on the nature and concentration of the damaging substance (acid, alkali or other aggressive compound), the area of the affected area and, of course, where the chemical entered (on the skin, in the eyes or internally).
Skin burns
This is the most common type of chemical burn. Alkalies always give more pronounced symptoms, since these substances quickly penetrate deep into the tissues, so the affected area is often larger than the area of the skin on which the reagent came into contact.
Acids “behave” differently. These aggressive substances cause changes in tissues that lead to the rapid formation of a scab, which prevents further spread of the process.
Symptoms
A 4th degree burn is typical for alkalis. In this case, all layers of the skin, subcutaneous fatty tissue and deeper lying tissues are affected.Based on the depth of injury, there are 4 degrees of injury severity:
- 1st degree - redness and slight swelling form on the skin at the site of contact with the chemical agent. The victim may experience a burning sensation and mild pain. When burned with acids, crusts (scabs) quickly appear at this site. An alkali burn can cause detachment of the surface layer of the epidermis, resulting in the formation of a swollen, weeping surface that will later become covered with a scab. The swelling goes away after a few days. After 1-2 weeks, the crust peels off, in place of which slight skin pigmentation may remain.
- 2nd degree - the epidermis is affected to its full depth, sometimes the deeper layer of skin - the dermis - is affected, tissue swelling is much more pronounced. Unlike chemical ones, bubbles do not form. Exposure to acid leads to the formation of a thin film of dead surface tissue and the formation of a dense scab, which is torn off within a week and exposes an area of bright pink pigmentation that persists for a very long time. Alkaline burns are characterized by complete rejection of the dead layer of skin, exposing deeper layers of skin, down to the subcutaneous fat. A gelatinous, moist scab forms on the damaged surface and dries out within a few days. With alkaline burns, purulent complications often occur, and after healing the wounds may remain.
- 3rd and 4th degree chemical burns are most typical for alkalis. With grade 3, all layers of the skin are affected, and with grade 4, deeper tissues and organs are damaged. The rejection of the scab takes a long time, sometimes within a month, exposing purulent, long-lasting wounds. Rough or trophic ulcers may subsequently remain at the burn site. Chemical burns always have clear boundaries; the depth of the lesion in the center is usually greater than at the edges. Often due to the formation of a scab in burns of the 3rd and 4th degree. It is difficult to accurately assess the severity of the injury; only after its rejection the depth of the lesion becomes visible. The coloring of the scab from a burn with various substances differs, this makes it possible to accurately determine the damaging reagent.
First aid
First of all, it is necessary to stop exposing the skin to the aggressive substance; you must immediately remove clothing and other objects that have come into contact with the reagents. Then it is necessary to rinse the affected area with cold running water for a long time (at least 20 minutes). Antidotes can be used to neutralize chemicals that come into contact with the skin. However, this can only be done if the nature of the damaging agent is reliably known (that is, if you are burned by plant juice, you should definitely not take such actions):
- for burns with alkaline substances - 1-2% solution acetic acid, from available means you can use diluted lemon juice;
- when exposed to acids - 2% solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda); for shallow burns, you can sprinkle soda on the wound surface.
After washing, the damaged area is covered with a clean, dry bandage (no ointments or powders can be used without a doctor’s prescription). For grade 3 and 4 burns, as well as for purulent complications of milder injuries, you should contact a medical facility for further treatment recommendations.
Chemical burns to the eyes
Among all injuries to the organ of vision, chemical burns occur in approximately 10% of cases, which is not so small. This injury is very serious, since it can lead to a decrease in visual acuity, and in worst case to his loss. That is why, if chemical reagents get into the eyes, it is necessary to urgently consult an ophthalmologist; in most cases, victims are hospitalized for treatment in a hospital.
Symptoms and first aid
First aid for a chemical burn to the eyes is to rinse them abundantly with running water. Immediately after an aggressive substance enters the eye, pain appears, a strong burning sensation, a sensation of a foreign body, profuse lacrimation, redness of the conjunctiva, swelling of the eyelids, victims complain of blurred vision and photophobia, sometimes it is simply impossible to open the eye. Next, clouding of the cornea may develop.
First aid for a chemical burn to the eyes consists of prolonged, copious rinsing with running water; if you have saline solution on hand, it is better to use it. No antidotes, as for chemical burns of the skin, can be used to wash the eyes! The victim should be taken as soon as possible to a specialized medical facility where there is an ophthalmologist.
Chemical burn of the oropharynx, esophagus and internal organs
Damage to the digestive system by aggressive substances occurs in more than 70% of cases in young children when they ingest improperly stored household chemicals. Among adults, people most often affected are those who are intoxicated, the elderly, and those who deliberately take corrosive substances for suicidal purposes.
In addition to household chemicals, acids and alkalis, chemical burns of the esophagus can be caused by alcohols and alcohol substitutes; do not also forget about the electrolytes contained in batteries.
Symptoms of damage to visible mucous membranes are similar to signs of skin injury: swelling occurs at the site of damage, the depth of damage to external tissues depends on the concentration and nature of the active substance. When reagents enter the esophagus and stomach, severe pain occurs behind the sternum and in the upper abdomen; due to swelling of the esophagus, swallowing is impaired or becomes impossible. Due to the contact of aggressive substances on the vocal cords, the voice becomes hoarse, and swelling of the larynx causes difficulty breathing. Vomiting with blood may occur.
In addition to local manifestations of the burn, when a large amount of caustic substances enters the stomach, signs of general intoxication develop. Severe complications can develop very quickly, such as perforation of the esophagus, walls of the stomach and intestines, and peritonitis.
First aid for a burn of the esophagus
If you suspect a chemical burn of the esophagus, especially in children, you should immediately call an ambulance. While waiting for the doctors to arrive, if the victim is conscious, it is necessary to perform gastric lavage. To do this, he needs to be given a liter of boiled warm (but not hot) water to drink and induce vomiting.
If it is known for sure that poisoning occurred with acid, then gastric lavage can be carried out with a 2% solution baking soda(dissolve 2 g of powder in 1 liter of boiled warm, but not hot water). In case of alkali poisoning, rinsing is carried out with a 1-2% solution of acetic acid. If it is not possible to establish the nature of the chemical compound, then you can give the victim 2 glasses of warm milk to drink.
The sooner the victim undergoes gastric lavage, the more favorable his prognosis for treatment and recovery.
Prevention of chemical burns
In the vast majority of cases, chemical burns can be avoided. To do this, you need to take a number of simple measures:
- training personnel in the rules of handling chemicals and the use of protective clothing and glasses at work;
- clear, preferably bright and visible labeling of all chemicals available at work and at home;
- storage of any household chemicals and poisons in places inaccessible to children (including glue, solvents, nail polish removers, batteries, etc.);
- Before using household chemicals, you must carefully read the instructions and use rubber gloves when working with them;
- It is highly undesirable to use bottles and other packaging for medical supplies and food products for storing chemicals;
- study of the properties of indoor and wild plants.
Which doctor should I contact?
Skin burns are treated by a surgeon; if chemicals get into your eyes, you should consult an ophthalmologist. In case of severe burns of internal organs, the help of a toxicologist, anesthesiologist, gastroenterologist, or surgeon is required.
A burn is damage to the integrity of the skin under the influence of an aggressive external factor. There are thermal, radiation and chemical damage. The latter is extremely dangerous, because the negative effect of chemicals extends to the entire body and even after timely first aid, the wound may worsen.
In a chemical burn, not only the top layer of skin is damaged; sometimes, under the influence of an aggressive reagent, soft tissue and even bone are destroyed.
There are two types of designated burns: domestic and industrial. The first includes injuries that can be sustained at home, because today in everyday life at the user level, a person comes into contact with various chemicals (acids, alkalis, gasoline, etc.). Burns received at home are usually not as deep and severe as those at work, therefore, restoration of damaged areas occurs much faster.
In production, people work with more aggressive substances, which always have high concentrations. Therefore, these injuries have serious consequences.
In addition, burns manifest themselves differently depending on what particular substance caused it.
Acids, in addition to the destruction of soft tissues, also lead to rapid dehydration of the body, as a result of which the scab that forms at the site of injury has a dense and dry structure.
Alkali has the ability to dissolve fatty and protein components of cells, therefore this substance penetrates deep into soft tissue very quickly. When burned with alkaline substances, the scab does not have clearly defined contours and has a soft structure.
Children and men are at risk for chemical burns.
Children and women are characterized by domestic injuries that occur as a result of careless handling of aggressive components or as a result of pranks.
Men usually receive such a burn at work.
Brief characteristics of the grass
A chemical burn is a violation of tissue integrity as a result of contact with reagents.
As a rule, such injuries occur when safety precautions are violated while working with designated irritants, as a result of accidents, as well as during suicide attempts.
The degree of burn that develops as a result of contact with an aggressive substance depends on several factors. Firstly, on the strength and mechanism of action of the substance on the tissue (for example, throwing acetic acid onto your hand or lowering a limb into it). Secondly, on the quantity and concentration of the aggressive component. And thirdly, on the duration of exposure and the degree of penetration of the chemical.
There are four degrees of burn injuries:
- I is the lightest, affecting only the top layer of skin, the epidermis. Possible swelling and redness. The pain is mild;
- Stage II is determined when the deeper layers are damaged, the skin turns red and becomes blistered with fluid. The victim experiences quite severe pain;
- III degree, in addition to the skin, adipose tissue is also damaged, the blisters are filled with cloudy bloody contents, while pain is completely absent, since the nerve endings are completely destroyed;
- VI is the most severe degree, which is characterized by damage not only to soft tissues, but also to tendons and bones.
A dangerous feature of chemical burns is that the substances have an instant destructive effect, therefore, as a rule, they cause wounds of the third and fourth degree of severity.
These types of burns also differ in the characteristic color of the damaged skin. When in contact with sulfuric acid, the wound initially has a light tint, and then becomes grayish or brown.
Nitric acid injuries are light yellow-green or yellow-brown in color.
A concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide causes a grayish burn.
The peculiarity of the aggressive substance is that it continues to destroy tissue for some period after the source has been eliminated. Consequently, immediately after injury, it is impossible to determine the extent of the damage. As a rule, the situation can only be assessed a week after the burn, when the scab begins to fester.
In addition, to determine the severity of the wound, the area of the lesion is also of great importance.
The degree of skin damage caused by a chemical also affects clinical symptoms that occur after injury. The victim may experience pain, general lethargy, and nausea. The wound becomes colored depending on the aggressive substance, blisters appear and a scab is formed, the structure of which also depends on the type of damaging factor.
First aid for a chemical burn
It is clear how serious the injuries caused by the destructive effects of chemicals on the body are. Therefore, it is especially important to provide proper first aid for a burn and consult a doctor immediately. We also note that treating injuries that occur as a result of contact with chemicals at home without consultation and supervision of a specialist is strictly prohibited. The severity of the injury, further recovery, and, in an hour, life depend on timely and correct actions to neutralize the action of the destructive factor.
And so, the first thing to do is to prevent contact of the skin with the reagent and at the same time call an ambulance. Also, if an area of the body that is under clothing is damaged, it should also be removed immediately. The chemical is washed off under running cold water for at least thirty minutes, for alkaline burns – much longer. It is important that the water drains and washes away the remaining reagent. Do not wipe the wounds with cloth or paper afterwards.
Important! If the burn was caused by an organic aluminum compound, then it is strictly forbidden to wash such wounds with water, since it reacts and the destructive effect only intensifies.
After rinsing, take steps to neutralize the active substance. This procedure is only allowed if it is known exactly what caused the burn.
The effect of acids is neutralized with a weak alkaline solution; you can use regular soda.
An alkali burn is treated with citric or acetic acid diluted in water.
The destructive effect of quicklime can be neutralized with a twenty percent sugar solution.
If the substance that caused the burn is unknown, then nothing other than ordinary water should be used.
After treating the wound as described above, a dry sterile bandage or one soaked in novocaine is applied to it to reduce pain. Under no circumstances should you use any ointments or gels before consulting a doctor.
For severe pain symptoms, you can use painkillers (Ketonov, Tempalgin, Demidrol).
Before the ambulance arrives, to prevent intoxication of the body and the occurrence of shock syndrome, the victim needs to drink a lot of warm sweet tea or coffee.
Treatment methods for chemical burns
The tactics for treating damage caused by the action of destructive substances depends on the following factors:
- type of substance;
- severity of the wound;
- patient's age;
- area that has been subjected to aggressive influence (body, eyes, internal organs);
- general condition of the patient.
Correctly provided first aid increases the chances of a favorable course of the rehabilitation period.
There are several types of burn treatment:
- medicinal;
- physiotherapy;
- surgical.
At the healing stage, iodine solutions and silver-containing ointments are actively used. These drugs disinfect wounds well and gently dry the skin.
In addition, medications are prescribed to restore the integrity of the skin. The best ointments for this task are "", "", "Panthenol", "Levomekol".
To strengthen the body, vitamin complexes and immunomodulators, as well as antihistamines, are prescribed.
Wounds that have not yet healed or if there are purulent foci, they are treated with a special antiseptic solution of Chlorhexidine.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment include influencing the wound using ultrasound, ultraviolet or infrared waves. This technique is used in the later stages of healing. Its main task is to stimulate cells for effective regeneration, restore the body’s protective functions, and improve blood flow.
These two methods refer to conservative treatment that is used for first, second and in some cases third degree burns.
For deeper and more extensive injuries, a favorable prognosis is possible only if surgical method. Today, several types of surgical intervention are practiced. These include:
- cardinal - involves amputation of limbs that have suffered severe damage when necrosis has spread to healthy tissue and there is a threat to the patient’s life;
- excision of the scab or necrotomy, this manipulation is carried out to restore blood supply to the damaged area, it is used as a type of emergency medical care to prevent necrosis;
- necrotomy - cleaning a wound from necrotic tissue. As a rule, such surgical intervention is used for third-degree burns. Can be carried out in stages if the burn area is very large;
- The transplant involves the use of donor or own skin, and is performed on large areas of damage.
In case of burns with chemicals, which, in addition to thermal effects on tissues, also have a toxic effect on all organs and systems as a whole, serious disorders of the kidneys, pulmonary dysfunction, toxicemia, and a state of shock can develop. Therefore, treatment should be carried out taking these points into account, both to prevent them and to eliminate them.
If we talk about forecasts, it depends on many factors. But in general, first and second degree burns heal well and are not so dangerous to the body. But injuries of the third and fourth degree do not pass without a trace and reminders of the damage suffered remain for life and the least are scars, but a person can also lose individual parts of his body.
Therefore, it is necessary to take care of yourself and your loved ones, observe industrial safety precautions when working with active substances, and keep all dangerous compounds away from children at home in closed cabinets and rooms. When working with chemical compounds, cover your respiratory system with bandages or masks, and wear gloves.
Remember, your protection largely depends on you; almost ninety-five percent of accidents could have been prevented with increased attention and compliance with the rules. Stay healthy.
A chemical skin burn is damage to body tissues due to interaction with chemically aggressive substances and environments. In mild forms of burns, inflammation and swelling of tissues occur; in more complex forms, their integrity is damaged. The risk of getting a chemical burn increases in industrial conditions (in laboratories, workshops, preparation rooms, etc.). In everyday life, such situations arise much less frequently, but the risks still remain.
Risk factors for chemical skin burns
At home, household chemicals that are regularly used in everyday life can pose a danger:
- cleaning products for pipes and toilets;
- whitening preparations;
- pool cleaning products;
- gasoline and so on.
In industrial conditions, such drugs include salts of heavy metals, chemical reagents, acids, alkalis, aggressive chemical environments, etc.
Symptoms of chemical burns and their degrees
Symptoms of chemical burns depend on the degree and area of tissue damage. In total, there are 4 degrees of severity of burns.
Grade 1 is characterized by damage to the upper layers of the dermis and is accompanied by redness of the skin, tissue swelling and pain on palpation.
Grade 2 is expressed by damage to the deeper layers of the dermis with the appearance of blisters filled with liquid exudate.
Grade 3 is caused by damage to the fatty layer of the dermis and connective tissue. Due to damage to nerve cells, the sensitivity of the tissue at the burn site decreases, the pain dulls, and the skin becomes whiter. The first signs of tissue necrosis appear.
Grade 4 is characterized by damage not only to soft tissues, but also to bones. Fourth degree burns are the most dangerous and very difficult to treat.
Providing first aid for chemical burns
In case of chemical damage to the skin, it is important to provide timely emergency assistance to the victim, since the favorable outcome of subsequent treatment depends on this. First aid measures for chemical burns are carried out according to the following approximate algorithm:
- Remove the victim's clothing that has come into contact with the chemical.
- Clean the skin from chemical residues (rinse with plenty of running water).
- Clean the skin with a mild soap solution.
- Apply a sterile napkin to the wound.
- Seek medical help from specialists as soon as possible.
Treatment of chemical burns
Treatment methods for chemical burns depend on the degree of tissue damage and the area of the burned surface. Mild burns (grade 1 and 2) can be treated at home using medications and folk remedies. Severe burns (3rd and 4th degrees) are treated in a hospital setting under the strict supervision of medical personnel.
Drug treatment chemical burns is aimed at healing wounds, removing swelling and redness of tissues, restoring the protective functions of the dermis and accelerating regenerative processes. For this purpose, ointments with a healing effect, antiseptic and antimicrobial drugs (to prevent infections in injured areas), hypertonic solutions, bactericidal ointments and fungicidal drugs are used.
Folk remedies for the treatment of chemical burns should cool and heal the skin. Effective are raw potatoes, strong brewed black tea, cucumber juice, potato starch and so on.
Potato starch mask
- Dilute 3-4 tablespoons of potato starch with warm water to the consistency of sour cream.
- Apply a layer of half a centimeter to the affected skin.
- Leave for 20 minutes.
- Rinse off with cool water.
Tea compress
- Brew 2-3 tablespoons of black tea in a teapot.
- Leave and cool to room temperature (you can add ice cubes to the brew for faster cooling).
- Soak clean gauze in the tea leaves and apply to the affected area.
- Change compresses as the gauze warms from the skin.
Prevention
In order to prevent chemical burns at home and at work, attention should be paid to compliance with safety regulations. In everyday life, you should carefully handle household chemicals; in industry, you should conduct safety classes with employees, first aid drills, etc.
First aid for chemical burns will help stabilize the patient’s condition, relieve severe pain, and prevent complications. The period of further recovery, and sometimes even the life of the victim, largely depends on the correctness of actions.
In case of burns, due to contact with aggressive environments, toxic substances, swelling and redness of the tissue occurs, complex shapes cause a violation of the integrity of the skin, and sometimes death.
Risk factors
Basically, such wounds can be provoked in industrial conditions, working in laboratories, in production.
Providing first aid for chemical burns may be needed at any moment. Often an injury occurs at home, if safety rules when working with household chemicals are not followed, there are many reasons for a chemical burn at home:
- Preparations for cleaning pipes and toilets.
- Antiseptics based on a synthetic component.
- “Whiteness”, analog whitening products.
- Kerosene, gasoline.
- Preparations for cleaning pools.
In industrial laboratories, such injury can be caused by acids, alkalis, reagents, aggressive environments and similar active elements. First aid for chemical burns will help save health and life, but it is important to know how to provide it correctly, because it differs depending on the aggressive substance.
Degrees and symptoms
The method of treating a chemical burn at the pre-medical stage and further recovery largely depends on the degree and depth of the damage and associated symptoms:
- Grade 1 severity - redness, swelling, moderate pain.
- Level 2 - blisters with a transparent liquid exudate or a scab (crust) are formed, depending on the reagent.
- Stage 3 - severe pain, the skin becomes whitish, and symptoms of chemical injuries such as necrosis appear.
- 4th degree of severity - deep layers, skin, bones, tendons are damaged.
Emergency measures
Damage to the skin
First aid includes the following measures:
- In case of a burn caused by chemicals, it is first necessary to eliminate the contact of the victim with the source of damage.
- Free the skin from excess clothing, remove jewelry and accessories from the injured area.
- First aid for chemical burns depends on the substance that caused the injury.
Important! In case of injury with quicklime, it is strictly forbidden to wash the area with water, this will aggravate the process of erosion of the epidermis. Remove the substance with a dry cloth or soft, clean cloth, and then apply any greasy product.
- If the lesion occurs due to contact with a powdered drug, it is necessary to carefully remove its remains from the skin. Only then rinse with water. If first aid for chemical burns is not provided, the injury will increase in size.
- Rinse the area with cool water for 30 minutes to remove any remaining substances and increase the effectiveness of further therapy.
- Organic aluminum compounds ignite upon contact with water; they must be removed from the injured area using a dry cloth or cloth. If the skin area is washed and the pain intensifies, the procedure should be stopped.
- Emergency care for chemical burns includes the need to neutralize the effect of the reagent: treat the injury with acid with soda (1 tsp per 1 glass of water), rinse the alkali with citric or acetic acid (1 tsp per 1 glass of water).
- The treatment method for chemical burns at the pre-medical stage includes antiseptic drugs. If the integrity of the skin is damaged, blisters or scabs form, the area should be washed with Chlorhexidine, Furacilin, Miramistin.
- Apply a specialized anti-burn drug that promotes tissue restoration and has anti-inflammatory properties Panthenol, Bepanten, Olazol, Solcoseryl.
Important! When providing first aid for chemical burns, it is not recommended to use wet wipes. Given cosmetic product cannot completely remove the remnants of the substance, and even, on the contrary, promotes their deeper penetration into the skin.
- Emergency actions in case of chemical burns that are extensive require the use of painkillers. To improve the general condition of the victim, Paracetamol, Analgin, and Ibuprofen are recommended.
- Protect the injured area from exposure external factors, prevent infection by applying a sterile dressing.
First aid for a chemical burn should be started immediately so that the subsequent rehabilitation period is as simple as possible.
Eye damage
Damage to the organ of vision inevitably entails serious consequences, so it is imperative to consult a doctor.
The main signs of injury are:
- Cutting pain.
- Photophobia.
- Profuse lacrimation.
First aid for chemical burns includes the following measures:
- Open your eyelids as much as possible and rinse your eyes with water (cool, not cold!) for 15-20 minutes.
- Water can be replaced with milk to eliminate the negative effects of reagents. Particularly effective when alkali gets into the eyes.
- After applying a dry gauze bandage to the organ of vision, call a doctor. Further treatment rules should be prescribed by a specialist.
Trauma to the esophagus, stomach
First aid for chemical burns of the skin of the gastrointestinal tract should be carried out in a medical facility. Injury to the mouth, trachea, esophagus, or stomach occurs when electrolyte, acid, or other substances are swallowed. Depending on the degree of chemical burns, symptoms may include the following:
- Severe pain at the site of the lesion.
- Burning of the esophagus, stomach.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Vomiting blood.
- Difficulty breathing.
If you are burned by chemicals, you first need to neutralize them.
- If alkali has been swallowed, drink a vinegar solution (1 tsp per 300 ml of water) to rinse the stomach.
- When tissue damage is caused by alkali, drink a soda solution (1 tsp per 1 glass of water).
- When providing first aid for a chemical burn, it is necessary to induce natural vomiting and repeat the procedure with gastric lavage.
- Before the ambulance arrives, to relieve pain, drink a solution of Novocaine, Lidocaine, and if you can swallow, tablets of Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen.
- When the patient has lost consciousness due to severe injuries, bring them back to their senses and give them a sniff of ammonia.
First medical care for burns caused by chemicals will help prevent serious consequences. When going to the hospital, you need to take with you a container with reagents, a box or a sample of the substance that caused the damage. This allows the doctor to quickly take the necessary actions to neutralize the consequences and prescribe the correct treatment for chemical lesions.
Alternative medicine
At home, there are always medicinal formulations that can reduce painful symptoms. Providing first aid to the victim for chemical burns, using folk remedies, is allowed only for minor injuries.
- Application made from potato starch. To do this, mix 4 tbsp. l. powder and 150 ml of warm water, bring to the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply a thick layer to skin damaged by chemical burns, rinse after 20 minutes with cool water.
- Tea tea compress. Brew 3 tbsp. l. brew black or green tea, steep and cool to room temperature. Apply gauze soaked in tea leaves to the affected area. Change compresses every 2 hours.
To prevent such injuries at home and at work, you should pay attention to safety rules when working with household products and reagents. And if an injury occurs, try to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Download information for medical workers:
Chemical burns are a consequence of external exposure to the body by various aggressive substances: organic and inorganic acids and their concentrated solutions, alkalis, some salts of heavy metals, etc.
Chemical burns similar to thermal burns, are also divided into degrees of damage: 
- First degree. Typically, burns of this degree occur from short-term exposure to a chemical or weak solutions. It is characterized by mild pain, possibly swelling and hyperemia of the skin at the site of contact.
- Second degree. The defeat is deeper. Characteristic blisters filled with liquid form.
- Third degree. Severe chemical burns are usually characterized by deep damage to the skin, down to the fatty tissue. Blisters with cloudy red fluid.
- Fourth degree. Characterized by the extremely serious condition of the victim. Exposure to the chemical affects skin and muscle tissue, organs, and bone and connective tissue.
Providing first emergency first aid for chemical burns
- If the burn is under clothing, it must be carefully removed and, if necessary, carefully cut.
- Rinse the affected area thoroughly with cool running water. The minimum rinsing time is 15 minutes. With prolonged exposure to the chemical, the rinsing time can be increased to 30 minutes or more. Bleach should never be washed off with water. To remove, use a dry cloth and lubricate the affected area with oil or grease. calcareous acid or 3″ esophagus, you should take it. , which caused the chemical
- Dry chemicals should be carefully removed from the affected area using a tissue before rinsing.
- After thorough rinsing, the remaining substance that caused the burn should be neutralized. Below is a brief neutralization table.
A short list of substances that cause chemical burns to the skin and their neutralization Substance name Neutralization agent Hydrochloric acid 2% soda solution Sulfuric acid 2% soda solution Nitric acid 2% soda solution Chlorosulfonic acid 2% soda solution Chlorosulfonic acid (Sulfonyl chloride) 2% soda solution Hydrofluoric acid 20% suspension: magnesium oxide on glycerin Chromic anhydride thorough rinsing Bleach 20% sugar Phenol (carbolic acid) rinse with medical alcohol, then with water Acetic acid 2% soda solution Chloroacetic acid 2% soda solution Acetylenedicarboxylic acid 2% soda solution Phosphorus halides 2% soda solution Caustic potassium 1% acetic acid solution Caustic sodium 1% acetic acid solution Caustic barium 1% acetic acid solution Sodium sulfide 1% acetic acid solution Ammonia solution 1% acetic acid solution Dimethyl sulfate only running water Dimethyl sulfoxide (Dimexide) only running water White phosphorus 1% copper sulfate solution, long-term neutralization Bromine Benzene Silver nitrate 30% sodium thiosulfate solution Download table:
- After neutralization, depending on the severity of the condition, you should re-rinse the affected area with water and apply a sterile bandage until the doctor arrives. Do not wrap the affected area tightly to avoid additional tissue injury.
- Panthenol can be used to treat the first (mildest) degree of burn.
- In case of a chemical burn to the eyes, rinse the eyes thoroughly with water (do not rub!). Next, in case of an acid burn, rinse your eyes with 3% soda solution. If the cause of the burn is alkali contact, rinse with 2% ( water!) solution of boric acid.
- In case of burn of the oral cavity with acids, rinse with a chalk suspension or solution of magnesium oxide or 5% soda solution. For a burn with alkali - rinse with 1% acetic acid solution or 3% aqueous solution of boric acid, you can also use diluted lemon juice.
- If an aggressive substance enters the esophagus, you should take milk.
- Chemical burns of 2nd degree or higher require qualified medical care.
