Burns are one of most common causes of accidental deaths amongst children and adults, Burns are more than a burning sensation experienced with the injury and are usually associated with severe skin damage that causes the affected skin cells to die.

In most circumstances the burn victim can recover from burns without serious impact on their health but severe burn injuries can cause the death of the victim. The cause and degree of the burn will determine how serious the injury is expected to be.

Different levels of burns

Burns are categorized into 3 degrees which indicates the  severity of damage to the skin. First-degree burns are the least severe while third-degree burns the most severe. The different characteristics which define the different degrees of burns are as follows:

First-degree burns: red, non-blistered skin.

First-degree burns aren’t severe and cause minimal skin damage. They affect the outermost layer of skin and are also called “superficial burns”.

Second-degree burns: blisters and some thickening of the skin.

Second-degree burns are more severe and the damage will extend beyond the top layer of skin. This type of burn causes the skin to blister and become extremely red and sore.

Third-degree burns: widespread thickness with a white, leathery appearance.

Third-degree burns are the most severe and they cause the most damage, extending through every layer of skin.

There are also fourth-degree burns. This type of burn includes all of the symptoms of a third-degree burn and also extends beyond the skin into tendons and bones.

Burns can be caused by :

• hot or boiling liquids,
• chemicals,
• electricity,
• fires and flames, and
• Excessive exposure to sun.

The degree of the burn is not based on the cause of it. Scalding, for example, can cause all three burns, depending on how hot the liquid is and how long it stays in contact with the skin.

Chemical and electrical burns require immediate medical attention because it can affect the inside of the body, even if skin damage appears to be minor.

What to do in case of a burn

• Should anyone sustain a burn injury involving flames, the victim should stop, drop and roll to put out the flames.
• Don’t touch electrical injury victims before removing the current – use a stick or non-conductor to avoid rescuer injury or death.
• The heat from a fire, hot water or electrical burn will continue to burn the tissue long after the offending contact is removed. It’s          essential to stop the burning by keeping the burnt body part under cold running tap water for 20 minutes. Don’t use ice or ice water; it can cause frostbite because the skin is already damaged. The wound must be covered with cling wrap or a clean sheet and medical assistance sought.
• Cool a minor burn to help soothe the pain. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain eases.
• Don’t apply butter or any oil-based product to a burn injury, the oil can trap the heat and make the burn deeper over time.

Reach hospital as early as possible

In case of severe burn, one should immediately rush to any nearest hospital and get the first aid and depending of the severity of burn, patient should be brought to the specialized facility which has infrastructure for burn management such as Burn unit, ICU, blood bank, diagnostic facilities, trained plastic surgeon, critical care intensivists, nursing and support staff.