Burns, injuries resulting from contact with extreme heat or cold, chemicals, electricity, or radiation, are frequent accidents. While many are minor and without major complications, some can be disabling or fatal, requiring early and correct treatment.
Burns are classified into three severity levels: superficial (1st degree), characterized by redness, heat, and pain without blisters, affecting only the epidermis; superficial partial-thickness (2nd degree), which reaches the dermis, may form blisters, and takes longer to heal; and full-thickness (3rd degree), the most severe, affecting the entire skin and underlying tissues, with rigid skin and no pain due to nerve destruction.
Other types include thermal burns (fire, boiling liquids, ice), electrical burns (electric current, with entry and exit points), chemical burns (acids or bases), and radiation burns (X-rays, nuclear). Basic care involves removing the victim from the source, removing affected clothing (unless adhered), removing accessories, and cooling the burn with running tepid water.
