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Burning Man Oil Rig Explodes into a 300+ ft Fire Ball / Mushroom Cloud at Burning Man 2007 by !Habit Forming

• First-degree burns: the skin is red, painful and very sensitive to touch. The damaged skin may be slightly moist from leakage of the fluid in the deeper layers of the skin.
  
  
• Second-degree burns: the damage is deeper and blisters usually appear on the skin. The skin is still painful and sensitive.
  
  
• Third-degree burns: the tissues in all layers of the skin are dead. Usually there are no blisters. The burned surface can appear normal, white, black (charred), or bright red from blood in the bottom of the wound. Damage to skin nerves can mean it is quite painless. The burned skin lacks sensation to touch. A skin graft is usually necessary for significant areas.
  
  

First aid for burns

The first thing to do is to limit the extent of the damage, and prevent the burn from becoming worse.

• The burnt area must be cooled by being placed under cold running water. The water must not be unpleasantly cold.
  
  
• The damaged area must stay under running water for at least one hour, or longer if the pain has not stopped. Up to four hours of this treatment can be beneficial.
  
  
• First-degree burns, eg mild sunburn, do not require this treatment.
  
  

Which burns need treatment by health professionals?

• Burns that are bigger than the palm of the hand.
  
  
• Burns on the face, neck, hands, and in the groin.
  
  
• All third-degree burns.
  
  
• Most second-degree burns.
  
  

Remember that it can be difficult to distinguish between second- and third-degree burns, so always have a nurse or doctor check all but the most minor burns.

• If possible, keep pouring water over the burn on the way to the doctor, or use clean, soaking wet towels.
  
  
• Do not lance the blisters yourself.
  
  
• Never apply an ointment to burns or try other folk remedies - water is the only thing that should be used. Do not use butter or lard on burns!
  
  
• Do not forget to have a tetanus injection if you have not had a booster within the last 10 years.
  
  

What complications can occur?

• When skin is burned, it loses its ability to protect, which increases the risk of infection. So it is important that the damaged area be thoroughly cleansed within the first six hours, and that the area is kept clean while it is healing.
  
  

If, after a few days, there are signs of an infection - ie the skin is becoming increasingly red, hot, and swollen, and the victim experiences a throbbing pain - contact a doctor or your practice nurse.

• Severe burns can cause scarring.
  
  
• In cases of extensive severe burns, the body may lose large quantities of fluid. This can disturb the blood circulation and cause problems with the body’s salt balance. Such injuries should be assessed at your local Accident and Emergency department.
  
  

What can be done to prevent burns?

The kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house, and the most likely place for burns and scalds to occur.

When cooking, keep small children away from hot drinks, pans and kettles, barbecues and other open flames. Remember that barbecues can suddenly ’spit’ flames when inflammable liquids are poured over them. Barbecues are a major cause of serious burns.

When there are small children in the house, fill baths by running the cold tap first.

Never throw water over oil fires, such as in a chip pan, because this will cause a fire explosion that can have severe consequences. Instead the fire should be smothered by covering the pan with a damp cloth.

Buy a proper fire-smothering blanket and keep it somewhere in the kitchen where it is easily accessible.

Based on a text by Eric Olesen, plastic surgeon

Dientes by cindylu

What are dental injuries?

Dental trauma occurs when the tooth receives a blow. Teeth can be broken, loosened or knocked out completely. Immediate treatment gives the best possible chance of saving the tooth.

What should you do about dental injuries?

Following an accident involving the face/mouth:

• check the teeth by looking, or using a finger.
  
  
• locate any missing teeth or fragments of teeth.
  
  
• only touch the crown of the tooth - the part usually visible in the mouth.
  
  
• do not wash or rinse the fragment or tooth with anything, even water.
  
  
• store the fragment or tooth in milk, if possible. If the person is conscious, not shocked and old enough to cooperate, the fragment can be stored in their mouth under the tongue.
  
  
• seek advice from a dentist immediately. A tooth that has been knocked out, or even a broken tooth, has a better chance of being successfully re-implanted if this is done as soon as possible (ideally within half an hour).
• What can your dentist do?
  
  
• It may be possible to re-implant the tooth if help is sought quickly, the bone is not too badly damaged and the patient is in a fit state for treatment.
  
  
• Milk teeth are not re-implanted as there is a risk of harming the permanent tooth underneath.
  
  
• Soft tissue damage may require stitches.
  
  
• The tooth fragment or a white filling material may be used to rebuild the tooth.
  
  
• A splint is often required to hold a loosened or re-implanted tooth in place.
  
  
• A tetanus booster and/or antibiotics may be required.
  
  
• The tooth will need to be regularly checked and X-rayed.

• References Health Evidence Bulletins Wales: Oral Health. Chapter 7: dental injuries. Welsh Office, 1998

  Based on a text by Jens Kølsen Petersen, dental specialist

What is concussion?

Concussion is a disturbance of function of the nerve cells in the brain as a result of a blow to the skull. This means that parts of the brain’s functions are temporarily ‘on hold’.

The symptoms include temporary unconsciousness, headache and, often, a loss of memory concerning the critical incident. Vomiting and nausea are also common.

All blows to the head may be dangerous

An uncomplicated concussion is not dangerous and cannot be treated. The brain will simply need time to heal. But complications can arise in severe cases:

• A blow to the head can cause a tear of a blood vessel under the skull and thereby cause a growing accumulation of blood that will gradually cause the brain to become displaced. This condition is life threatening if the blood accumulation is not drained by drilling a hole in the skull.
  
  
• A very serious concussion with several days of unconsciousness is also dangerous owing to the risk of the brain swelling.
  
  

The doctor should be contacted if:

• the patient has been unconscious for more than a couple of minutes.
  
  
• the patient, after having regained consciousness, becomes sleepy and hard to converse with.
  
  
• the patient’s condition worsens after improvement.
  
  
• the patient vomits.
  
  
• the patient has a fit.
  
  

When will a doctor send a concussed person to hospital?

The doctor will admit the patient to hospital for observation for 24 hours if there has been unconsciousness. If the concussion is less severe and the home circumstances are adequate then observation at home may be satisfactory.

What to look for in a concussed person

In general, the patient should be watched by an adult for 12-24 hours after the incident. Once every hour the patient should be asked to repeat something simple like their name and address, even during the night.

If the patient is unable to remember simple personal details, the doctor should be contacted immediately.

What to do after a concussion

Usually the symptoms disappear gradually after a few days or a few weeks. Some points to remember:

• the brain needs to rest until the injures have healed and it should be strained as little as possible. Avoid too much reading or watching TV.
  
  
• hard physical activity should be avoided in the first week.
  
  
• get plenty of physical rest.
  
  

Is there a risk of permanent injury?

If the concussion has been particularly severe or the patient does not rest, there is a risk that the symptoms may stay for months and, in a few instances, the injuries become permanent. There is also a small risk of developing epilepsy after a concussion. The risks are particularly high when the concussions occur repeatedly, ie in boxers. This condition can be very uncomfortable, and is also called post-traumatic cerebral disorder. Many suffer from heavy headaches, dizziness, tiredness, irritability, sensitivity to sound and a lack of ability to concentrate. They may also feel uncomfortable when consuming alcohol.

If you recognise these symptoms you must consult a doctor.

Generally, the younger the patient, the better the chances of a complete recovery.

‘Post concussion’ syndrome more commonly follows a mild head injury and includes: headaches, dizziness, difficulty in breathing, depression and anxiety.

This syndrome can develop even if brain damage is minimal or absent on investigation.

All head injury patients require adequate medical assessment and for any other than minor injuries, this should be by a consultant in trauma medicine or a neurologist.

Based on a text by Dr Henrik Ømark Petersen

Burning Man Oil Rig Explodes into a 300+ ft Fire Ball / Mushroom Cloud at Burning Man 2007 by !Habit Forming

• First-degree burns: the skin is red, painful and very sensitive to touch. The damaged skin may be slightly moist from leakage of the fluid in the deeper layers of the skin.
  
  
• Second-degree burns: the damage is deeper and blisters usually appear on the skin. The skin is still painful and sensitive.
  
  
• Third-degree burns: the tissues in all layers of the skin are dead. Usually there are no blisters. The burned surface can appear normal, white, black (charred), or bright red from blood in the bottom of the wound. Damage to skin nerves can mean it is quite painless. The burned skin lacks sensation to touch. A skin graft is usually necessary for significant areas.
  
  

First aid for burns

The first thing to do is to limit the extent of the damage, and prevent the burn from becoming worse.

• The burnt area must be cooled by being placed under cold running water. The water must not be unpleasantly cold.
  
  
• The damaged area must stay under running water for at least one hour, or longer if the pain has not stopped. Up to four hours of this treatment can be beneficial.
  
  
• First-degree burns, eg mild sunburn, do not require this treatment.
  
  

Which burns need treatment by health professionals?

• Burns that are bigger than the palm of the hand.
  
  
• Burns on the face, neck, hands, and in the groin.
  
  
• All third-degree burns.
  
  
• Most second-degree burns.
  
  

Remember that it can be difficult to distinguish between second- and third-degree burns, so always have a nurse or doctor check all but the most minor burns.

• If possible, keep pouring water over the burn on the way to the doctor, or use clean, soaking wet towels.
  
  
• Do not lance the blisters yourself.
  
  
• Never apply an ointment to burns or try other folk remedies - water is the only thing that should be used. Do not use butter or lard on burns!
  
  
• Do not forget to have a tetanus injection if you have not had a booster within the last 10 years.
  
  

What complications can occur?

• When skin is burned, it loses its ability to protect, which increases the risk of infection. So it is important that the damaged area be thoroughly cleansed within the first six hours, and that the area is kept clean while it is healing.
  
  

If, after a few days, there are signs of an infection - ie the skin is becoming increasingly red, hot, and swollen, and the victim experiences a throbbing pain - contact a doctor or your practice nurse.

• Severe burns can cause scarring.
  
  
• In cases of extensive severe burns, the body may lose large quantities of fluid. This can disturb the blood circulation and cause problems with the body’s salt balance. Such injuries should be assessed at your local Accident and Emergency department.
  
  

What can be done to prevent burns?

The kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house, and the most likely place for burns and scalds to occur.

When cooking, keep small children away from hot drinks, pans and kettles, barbecues and other open flames. Remember that barbecues can suddenly ’spit’ flames when inflammable liquids are poured over them. Barbecues are a major cause of serious burns.

When there are small children in the house, fill baths by running the cold tap first.

Never throw water over oil fires, such as in a chip pan, because this will cause a fire explosion that can have severe consequences. Instead the fire should be smothered by covering the pan with a damp cloth.

Buy a proper fire-smothering blanket and keep it somewhere in the kitchen where it is easily accessible.

Based on a text by Eric Olesen, plastic surgeon

Accidents are a part of life, especially when children are growing up. Make sure you know what do when the unexpected happens. In this section you’ll find advice on nosebleeds, heart attacks, carbon monoxide poisoning and more.