Whenever a body part, such as the eyes and skin, comes into contact with a chemical irritant, particularly acids or alkaline, chemical burn can occur. These chemical reactions cause burn and it could be very fatal if these are also ingested or swallowed accidentally. Always remember that strong acid-based chemicals can cause severe burns and it can happen anywhere, because of the different products containing chemicals that are commonly used as household items. Although these infants and elderly are at a higher risk for acquiring chemical burns, it can affect everyone regardless of age and gender.
Chemical Burn Symptoms Vary
The most common symptoms of chemical burn include burning or irritation on the affected part, numbness and pain, redness, breathlessness, if eye is affected there could be temporary loss of vision, head ache, blisters and coughing. Some other severe symptoms include seizures, lowered blood pressure, cardiac arrest, irregular pulse and heart beat, as well as dizziness. It is important to remember that these are just generalized symptoms, and these may still vary from one victim to another, depending on the length of exposure to and strength of the chemical, location of the burn, as well as how much chemical was used.
Chemical Burns – Immediate First Aid
- First Aiders Need to Protect Themselves – Put apron or gloves, if necessary to avoid contact with the irritant.
- Remove any remaining chemical that can further burn the skin – brush off or rinse any chemical with running, cool water for 15 to 20 minutes to ensure that the chemical is removed. Make sure that the running water is not too heavy to avoid further injury to the burnt victim.
- Remove any jewelry or clothing that has also come into contact with the chemical.
- Wrap the area with a loose cloth to protect the site from foreign objects and keep the area sterile and free from infection.
- Get tetanus vaccine, if necessary. Burns can cause tetanus, and the primary prevention for this is to get early tetanus shot.
Call The Emergency Hotline If:
- The victim becomes unresponsive
- There is severe burning/bleeding in the affected site
- The victim exhibits signs of shock, including loss of consciousness, breathlessness, and pale skin complexion.
- The chemical burn affected a large portion of the eye, face, hands, groin, feet and other vital parts.
- The pain cannot be controlled by over the counter medications and there is sever toxicity from the substance.
Related Video on Chemical Burns:
Sources:
“Chemical Burns.” Healthline. Retrieved online on December 19, 2014 from http://www.healthline.com/health/chemical-burn-or-reaction#Overview1
“Chemical Burn Treatment.” WebMD. Retrieved online on December 19, 2014 from http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/chemical-burns-treatment