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Hi Steemians!
Continuing the previous topic on what to do in case of fractures, sprains or hemorrhages, today will be explained on how to provide first aid in the emergencies that occur most, in this case wounds, burns and poisoning:
### Wounds.
A wound is an injury that occurs in the body. It can be produced for multiple reasons, although it is usually due to bumps or tears in the skin. Depending on its severity, medical assistance is necessary.
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[Source]( http://clipground.com/wound-clipart.html)</center>
+ Cutting or incised wounds: Produced by sharp objects such as cans, glass, knives, which can section muscles, tendons and nerves. The edges of the wound are clean and linear, bleeding may be sparse, moderate or abundant, depending on the location, number and caliber of the severed blood vessels.
+ Puncture wounds: They are produced by sharp objects, such as nails, needles, hooks or snakebites. The lesion is painful, the hemorrhage is scarce and the entrance hole is not very noticeable; It is considered the most dangerous because it can be deep, have perforated viscera and cause internal hemorrhages. The danger of infection is greater because there is no cleaning action produced by the outflow of blood salt outside. Tetanus, is one of the complications of this type of injuries.
+ Sharp puncture wounds: They are produced by sharp and sharp objects, such as scissors, daggers, knives, or a fractured bone. It is a combination of the two types of wounds previously named.
+ Lacerated wounds: Produced by jagged edges (saws or cans). There is tissue tearing and the edges of the wounds are irregular.
+ Wounds by firearms: Produced by projectiles; generally, the entrance hole is small, rounded, clean and the outlet is larger, the bleeding depends on the injured blood vessel; There may be fracture or visceral perforation, depending on the location of the lesion.
+ Avulsive wounds: Are those where the tissue of the victim's body is separated and torn. A cut or lacerated wound can become avulsive. Bleeding is abundant, example: dog bite.
+ Bruised wounds: Produced by stones, sticks, fist blows or with hard objects. There is pain and bruising, these wounds are presented by the resistance offered by the bone before the blow, causing the soft tissue injury.
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[Source]( https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-skin-wounds-various-types-wound-shown-as-d-illustration-epidermis-dermis-image74056337)</center>
+ Attention to minor injuries. You must do the following:
1. Place the victim in a comfortable position and ask him or her the cause of the injury.
2. Wash your hands and put on latex gloves, avoid touching the wound with your fingers, especially when you have an injury no matter how small.
3. Remove clothing if it covers the wound.
4. Dry the wound by touching with gauze, inside and to the ends, use the gauze only once. Never use cotton, handkerchiefs or paper napkins, these will speckle, stick to the wound and may cause infection.
5. Wash the wound with plenty of water and soap.
6. Apply iodized antiseptic.
7. Cover the wound with gauze, dressings, and compresses, secure with tape or bandage if necessary.
8. Do not apply for any other element, these cause infection in the wound and tetanus may occur.
9. Do not apply medications (powder antibiotics or ointments) because allergies may occur.
10. Wash your hands after giving attention.
### Burns.
The causative agents of burns are extremely varied and are grouped into three main categories: thermal burns, chemical burns and electric burns. Thermal burns, the most frequent (> 90% of cases), are classified into three subgroups:
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[Source](https://jp.123rf.com/photo_26579342_%E7%97%85%E6%B0%97%E3%81%AE%E7%94%B7%E3%81%AF%E6%9B%B8%E3%81%8D%E8%BE%BC%E3%81%BF%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6%E4%B8%8D%E5%B9%B3%E3%82%92%E8%A8%80%E3%81%86.html)</center>
+ Contact burns, which in turn can be with a hot solid (generally limited although deep) or with a hot liquid (extensive but somewhat shallow).
+ Burning by flame (more or less extensive, but almost always deep), which, when produced in closed spaces, are often associated with lung injuries by inhalation of smoke or toxic substances produced in combustion (carbon monoxide, isoniazid, cyanide, particles in suspension, gases at high temperature, etc.)
+ Radiation burns, mainly by ultraviolet rays after solar exposures, also by ionizing radiation.
Chemical burns can be classified as:
a) Acid burns, generally limited and of medium depth, provided they have been precociously washed abundantly and
b) Burns by bases or alkalis, deeper than those produced by acids and generally evaluative.
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[Source](https://www.slideshare.net/CaptTusharGangoly/fire-safety-and-burn-prevention)</center>
+ There are three levels of burns.
a) First degree burns: they affect only the outer layer of the skin and cause pain, redness and inflammation.
b) Second degree burns (partial thickness): they affect both the outer layer and the underlying layer of the skin, producing pain, redness, inflammation and blisters.
c) Third degree burns (full thickness): they extend to deeper tissues, producing a whitish, dark or charred skin that may be numb.
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[Source](http://first-aid-store.com/blog/tag/burn-first-aid/)</center>
+ General considerations.
Before administering first aid, you should evaluate the extent of the victim's burns and try to determine the depth of the most serious area, and then treat it properly. In case of any doubt, it should be treated as if it were a serious burn.
+ It should not:
1. Apply ointments, shortening, ice, medicines, creams, oils in spray or any other home remedy in the burns.
2. Remove clothing that is stuck to the skin.
3. Administer anything to the victim orally if there is a serious burn.
4. Immerse a severe burn in cold water, as this can cause shock.
5. Place pillows under the head of the victim if there are burns of the respiratory tract, because this can close these routes.
The burns of the airways that usually go unnoticed and that are the main cause of deaths in victims of the accident must be taken into special consideration. Respiratory tract burns can be caused by inhalation of smoke, steam, overheated air or toxic vapors, often in poorly ventilated spaces. It is the body's reaction to the entry of any toxic substance (poison) that causes injury or illness and sometimes death.
### Intoxication.
The degree of toxicity varies according to age, sex, nutritional status, penetration routes and toxic concentration. A Toxic is any solid substance, liquid or gas that in a certain concentration can harm living beings. Toxins can be very varied; we find them in plants, animals, microorganisms, in natural and artificial gases, in chemical substances and even in medicines that according to the dose can act toxic.
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[Source](https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/toxic-gm456090227-31092988?esource=SEO_GIS_CDN_Redirect)</center>
A Toxic is any substance that at a certain concentration produces harmful effects in living beings (Intoxication). The concept of toxic is wider than that of poison. This term is reserved for substances whose specific purpose is to cause harm.
+ Causes of poisoning. Poisonings or poisonings can occur by:
1. Excessive doses of drugs or drugs.
2. Inappropriate storage of drugs and poisons.
3. Inadequate use of insecticides, pesticides, cosmetics, petroleum products, paints or cleaning solutions.
4. By inhalation of toxic gases.
5. Consumption of foods in the decomposition phase or of canned products that have expired.
6. Handling or consumption of poisonous plants.
7. Ingestion of alcoholic beverages, especially adulterated ones.
+ Classification of toxics:
The poisons that a person can ingest are of mineral, vegetable and animal origin and of solid, liquid and gaseous consistency.
1. MINERAL: Phosphorus, cyanide, lead, arsenic, coal, pesticides, insecticides, petroleum derivatives.
2. VEGETABLE: Fungi, plants and wild seeds.
3. ANIMAL: Dairy, sea and meat products in poor conditions or because of sensitivity to these products.
4. Others: Many substances that are poisonous in small amounts can be in larger amounts. The inappropriate use and abuse of certain drugs and medications such as sleeping pills, tranquilizers and alcohol can also cause poisoning or poisoning.
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[Source](https://jp.123rf.com/photo_23952028_vomiting-people.html)</center>
+ Modes in which a person can become intoxicated.
a) By respiratory route. Inhalation of toxic gases such as fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, smoke in case of fire; chemical vapors, carbon monoxide, (produced by vehicle engines); the carbon dioxide from wells and sewerage and the chlorine deposited in swimming pools as well as the vapors produced by some domestic products (glues, paints and cleaners).
b) Through the skin. By absorption or contact with substances such as pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides; or those produced by plants such as ivy, oak and diefembaquia.
c) By digestive route. By ingestion of decaying food, caustic substances and medicines.
d) Circulatory route. A toxic can penetrate the bloodstream by:
• Inoculation: Through the bites of animals that produce an allergic reaction such as the bee, the wasp and the bites of poisonous snakes.
• Injection of medications: Overdose, expired medications or allergic reaction to a specific type of medication.
+ Signs of intoxication.
Depending on the nature of the poison, the sensitivity of the victim and the route of penetration, the signs can be:
• Changes in the state of consciousness: delirium, convulsions, and unconsciousness.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
• Burns around the mouth tongue or skin, if the toxic ingested is a caustic.
• Bad breath due to the ingestion of mineral substances.
• Dilated or contracted pupils.
• Stomach ache.
• Vision disorders (double vision or spots in the vision).
+ General attention to poisoning.
• If you suspect that someone is intoxicated try to find out the type of poison, the route of penetration and the time elapsed.
• Check the place to find out what happened and avoid more risks.
• Remove the victim from the source of poisoning if necessary.
• Check the state of consciousness and check if the victim breathes and has a pulse.
• If the victim is conscious, ask him questions to have more information.
• Loosen clothing if tight, but keep warm.
• If you have burns on your lips or mouth, apply plenty of cold water.
• If you experience vomiting, collect a sample of it so it can be analyzed.
• Keep the airways clear of secretions.
• Place it in a lateral safety position, to avoid that the vomited poison is ingested again or pass to the respiratory tract.
• Find and bring the containers that are near the victim to a health institution, so that their content is analyzed. The container containing the toxic substance is usually found near the victim.
• If you are sure of the type of poison ingested and it is indicated to cause vomiting, do so by inserting your finger or the end of a spoon until you touch the uvula (bell).
Avoid causing VOMIT in the following cases:
• If you notice burns on the lips and mouth.
• If the breath is to kerosene, gasoline or derivatives.
• When the instructions of the product so indicate.
• If you are unconscious or have seizures.
• If more than two hours have passed since the poison was ingested.
• If you have swallowed sulfuric acid, nitric acid, caustic soda or potash.
• Move the victim as soon as possible to a health center.
Thank you for reading.
For more information, visit the following links:
+ [http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/terminology/acute_intox/en/]( http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/terminology/acute_intox/en/)
+ [https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-skin-wounds-various-types-wound-shown-as-d-illustration-epidermis-dermis-image74056337](https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-skin-wounds-various-types-wound-shown-as-d-illustration-epidermis-dermis-image74056337)
+ [http://first-aid-store.com/blog/tag/burn-first-aid/](http://first-aid-store.com/blog/tag/burn-first-aid/)
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