Burn Awareness Week
JOBURG – According to a global study of hospitalised paediatric burn patients, South Africa has an incredibly high rate of burn injuries with an estimated 3.2 percent of the population suffering from a thermal injury every year.
That’s why 6 to 12 May is Burn Awareness Week.
Most serious burn incidents occur in densely populated informal settlements because paraffin is the most commonly used source of fuel. Unfortunately, children are particularly vulnerable to burn accidents and surprisingly, it is one of the leading causes of death of, and injury to, young children in South Africa.
Burns are usually categorised according to the severity of the tissue damage. Learn to recognise the difference between types of burns.
• First-degree burns only affect the top layer of skin or epidermis and cause mild pain and redness.
• Second-degree burns extend to the layer below the epidermis, the dermis, and cause pain, redness, and blisters that may ooze.
• Third-degree burns involve all layers of the skin and can damage the underlying bones, muscles and tendons. The burn appears pale, charred or leathery and there is no sensation in the area if nerve endings have been destroyed.
Treatment for burns depends on the extent of the tissue damage, the cause of the burn and whether or not there is an infection. Infection is a main concern, followed by dehydration. A burn injury leads to a loss of fluid through the skin and symptoms include thirst, weakness, light-headedness and dizziness.
While a burn injury is extremely painful, the healing process can be equally traumatic. As the new skin begins to form, a post-burn itch develops. This is caused by severe dehydration and can be unbearable for anyone, particularly young children. Scratching can destroy the new skin that is trying to form, which can lead to additional skin grafts, sepsis and scarring, as well as longer hospitalisation. There are also many psychological problems that are caused by post-burn itching, like an inability to sleep, fear, anxiety, depression and anger. The healed burn wound is often accompanied by anxiety and emotional distress if the injury has resulted in disfigurement.
The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town is the only paediatric hospital in Sub Sahara Africa with a trauma unit and burns unit dedicated to children under 12. Bio-Oil is one of the companies that has an ongoing commitment to assist burn victims and has donated products to the Children’s Hospital Trust so that every patient discharged from the Burns Unit at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital can take home a bottle of Bio-Oil to help with scarring and discomfort. Click here to watch the documentary Bio-Oil made about the Red Cross War Memorial Children Hospital Burns Unit in collaboration with the trust and the hospital.
Details: www.evolabs.com
