A chemical burn is when the damage is caused by contact of the eyes, nose, mouth or skin with a chemical. This can happen directly or indirectly, through the vapors of the product. Both industrial and household chemicals can cause severe burns to people and animals. Although the death rate is quite low, it is possible for a burn to be fatal. Treat any contact with a chemical as an emergency that requires immediate action and call for help if you are unsure of what to do. If your skin comes into contact with a chemical, immediately follow the procedures described here to treat the burn.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Treating the Chemical Burn
Step 1. Wash the affected area thoroughly
If you get a chemical burn, you should first dilute the substance. You should use lukewarm but not too hot water for this, otherwise it will irritate the skin even more. Let the water run over the burned part of the body for at least 30 to 45 minutes.
- This is the first step, regardless of the type of chemical you have touched.
- Generally the hands and arms are the most affected areas.
Step 2. Call the Poison Control Center
If the injury is not too severe, call your local poison control center after washing it thoroughly. If you know the chemical that burned you, be sure to let the operator know. This type of situation is within the remit of the poison control center and the telephone operator can give you all the information necessary for you to understand the specific problems related to the chemical you are using. If you don't know the name of the product, you should still call the center as the staff may be able to understand what it is with some degree of confidence, depending on the situation you describe to them or the workplace.
- If the injury is serious and you are taken to a hospital before you can call the poison control center, you should make sure someone does it from the emergency room so you know what to expect. Doctors are familiar with the procedures for treating a burn, but the Poison Control Center can provide more details.
- This is invaluable information, as some chemicals cause injuries that need to be left out in the open, while others cause burns that need an occlusive dressing.
Step 3. Continue washing the wound while you are being treated
When you get to the emergency room or doctor's office, you should continue washing the affected area, especially if you haven't had a chance to do this for at least 30-45 minutes before help arrives. Continuous irrigation of the tissues constantly dilutes the chemical and cools the skin.
In many cases you will be instructed to continue washing with water before being treated in the ER. For example, corrosive products must be diluted with a lot of water
Step 4. Recognize the various types of burns
There are two kinds of chemical burns. Some are caused by alkaline products, such as ammonia, or commonly found in fertilizers, drain cleaners and batteries. These are particularly dangerous burns.
Despite their reputation, acids (such as hydrochloric and sulfuric acids) are less toxic
Step 5. Take care of a late stage burn
When you go to the hospital for any type of burn you will be subjected to various treatments, depending on the severity of the damage. If there are large blisters or areas that need to be scraped, you will be given a pain reliever before cleaning the wound. Large blisters could be opened and drained in a controlled manner to limit pressure on the tissues. If the bubbles are small, they will most likely not be treated.
Healthcare professionals will cover the lesion with abundant silver sulfadiazine cream using a tongue depressor. A 10 x 10 cm gauze will then be placed directly on the burn for protective purposes. The damaged part will eventually be bandaged with a bandage
Step 6. Treat chemical burns in the eye
The oculars are extremely serious and you should call 911 immediately as soon as the accident occurs. Go to the nearest eye wash station and flush your eyes with plenty of water to dilute the substance. This way you minimize the risk of corneal and conjunctival scarring, both of which are responsible for possible blindness.
- You will be sent to the ophthalmic emergency room where a specialized doctor will check your vision and assess the damage you have suffered.
- Some studies indicate that in cases of acid eye burns, good results are obtained with abundant irrigation. You can use cortisone, vitamin C and antibiotic eye drops to treat this type of damage.
Step 7. Check for hand burns
Chemical hand burns are quite common when using household products such as drain cleaners, bleach and other cleaners. Accidents are also possible in those companies where substances such as sulfur are used. Hand burns can also be dangerous, but most of them are mild and can be treated with conservative therapy.
More or less invasive surgical interventions are necessary only in rare cases. Generally these are debrisations, skin transplants and repositioning of skin "flaps", which however cause serious deformities and alterations in functionality, especially if the burn is localized on the joint. This means that you may not be able to move the affected joint or even the whole hand due to hardened scar tissue, transplanted skin layers, or repositioned flaps
Part 2 of 2: Caring for the Injury
Step 1. Perform a visual inspection of the burn
If you are unsure whether you need emergency surgery, you can monitor the injury. The necessary care depends on the type and degree of the burn. The least serious damage is the first degree burn. This is a minor sunburn that causes redness of the outer layer of the skin.
- This means that the lesion affects only the epithelium, ie the outer layer of the skin, and that there are no blisters. You should feel just a little bit of pain and notice the redness of the affected area. Sunburn is typically classified as a first-degree burn.
- In this case, the most common treatment is the application of a prescription antibiotic ointment based on silver sulfadiazine.
Step 2. Identify a second degree burn
There are two types of damage of this severity; the first is superficial, characterized by redness, damage to the entire outer layer of the skin and partial involvement of the second layer. You may also notice the presence of blisters; you will experience intense pain, which is a good sign. The lesion is very red and may even bleed; it typically heals within two weeks without scarring.
- You may also be suffering from a deep second degree burn. In this case the damage extends even further to the lower layers of the dermis. The area is not red but white, which means that the blood vessels have been damaged and the circulation has stopped. You do not feel pain because the nerves are damaged and therefore you have lost the sensitivity of the region. Blisters are not always present, healing takes well over two weeks and will certainly leave scars.
- If the second degree deep burn affects a joint, the scar tissue will impair the mobility of the limb to which it is connected.
Step 3. Learn about third degree burns
This is the worst event that causes the most lasting damage. This type of injury affects the innermost layers of the skin, exactly as in the case of deep second degree burns; however, the damage extends to the subcutaneous tissue. The skin takes on a leathery appearance and the lesion must be managed surgically for it to heal.
In all likelihood, you will need to undergo a debridement or skin transplant
Step 4. Consider going to the emergency room, regardless of the severity of the injury
If you have suffered a second or third degree burn, then you need to be rushed to a major burn center for proper care. Even if you have a simple first degree burn that has been evaluated by the poison control center, you should still go to the emergency room as all chemical burns need to be referred for the attention of the burn center staff. The wound will be washed and medicated according to the severity of the damage. You will also be given all the necessary instructions to take care of the burn as it heals.
Even if you have been told that you are not in danger or you have been reassured that the chemical is not a strong acid or base, you should still consider getting checked at a burn center to assess the situation
Step 5. Monitor your health
You should follow the instructions given to you by the medical staff to avoid complications or infections. However, the situation can always get worse without warning; for this reason you should always check some details after suffering a burn. Make sure every day that there are no signs of infection, such as an increase in red tissue, the presence of pus, fever, or green discharge. If you notice any of these symptoms, go to the emergency room.
- If you are diabetic, take steroids, are undergoing chemotherapy or your immune system is weakened from other causes, then you run a higher risk of infection and need to be especially vigilant.
- You should check the wound daily, as well as wash it and change the dressing. Damaged skin should begin to peel off as new skin grows, over 10-14 days and depending on the severity of the burn.
Advice
- Prevention is key when handling chemicals. Pool acids and cleaners are very aggressive chemical mixtures, so you should always use rubber gloves and safety goggles. Do not underestimate the effects these products have on the human body, eyes, nose, mouth and skin.
- The packaging of all chemical products has a free telephone number ("toll-free number") on the label to contact for immediate information on how to behave in the event of an accident.
- There are safety data sheets (SDS) that provide a list of the potential effects of the chemical on the human body, both by inhalation and by direct contact.
