Question

Describe an injury that you, or your family member has sustained. Analyze the injury using host, agent, and environment.

Answer 1

I would like to mention about a very recent accidental event that happened to my son, which was a Second Degree Burn.

Event & Analysis:

The injury that my son (host) sustained was a second degree burn on his right leg calf when it accidentally came in contact with the hot exhaust pipe (agent) of a motorbike, which he was riding with shorts on.

The initial event seemed like a first degree burn, with mild irritation and pain in the affected area and slight reddening of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin), but no immediate swelling. As he was outdoors, he wasn't able to apply first aid immediately which include:

• Hold burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool water until the pain subsides.
• Cover with sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
• Apply a petroleum-based ointment.

And by the time he returned home a couple of hours later, the injury had turned worse. The pain and irritation increased, there was redness on a larger patch of skin and the spot swelled to eventually form a burn blister. This is the point when the degree of burn was confirmed to be a second degree, which affects both the epidermis and the dermis (lower layer of skin). Burn care treatment was given to the injury:

• Wash wound with cool water.
• Treat it with a skin care product like aloe vera cream or an antibiotic ointment.
• To protect the burned area, you can put a dry non-stick gauze bandage over the burn. Wrap it loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the area, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.
• Don't break blisters or it may cause infection.
• Based on burn severity, prescribed antibiotics and pain medications can be taken, and administer a tetanus shot, if needed.

The pain and irritation subsided the next day without any medications. However, the blister continued to exist for the next few days. The injury spot was periodically cleaned and antibiotic cream applied and dressed following burn treatment procedure.

• One should not to pop any blisters, as the blister is a natural barrier the body forms to protect against infection.

• A blister may form even under the dressing. While some people find them uncomfortable or unsightly, it is best to take a hands-off approach.

• If the blister breaks, clean the burn area carefully with warm water and mild soap and dry it up softly and apply antibiotic ointment.

• One should protect burnt areas from the sun, as burnt skin is more sensitive to direct sunlight by applying sunscreen to prevent scarring.

After treating the burn injury for 4-5 days, the blister finally broke out naturally and a couple of days later, the burnt skin dried off and shed, giving way to new epidermal tissue to resurface.