South Africa observes National Burns Awareness week from 6 to 12 May to help raise awareness of the injuries suffered by burns and how to prevent it.
What are burns?
Burns are the third most common cause of accidental deaths amongst children under 14 years in South Africa. 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 burn levels
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Burns are categorised into 3 degrees which indicates the severity of damage to the skin. First-degree burns are the least severe with third-degree burns the most severe.
The different characteristics which define the different degrees of burns are as follows:
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;
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.
First-degree burn
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 burn
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 burn
Third-degree burns are the most severe and they cause the most damage, extending through every layer of skin.
Preventing burns
The best way to fight burns is to prevent them. Most burns happen at home and involve infants and young children who are the most vulnerable.
Applying the following safety tips can help prevent burn injuries before they happen:
What to do in case of a burn
Burns can be very traumatic and victims who suffered more severe burns have to live with scars that might affect them for the rest of their lives. The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital encourages the public to help defeat the social stigma attached to children living with burns. Here is more information how to help those living with burns.