Hydrochloric acid is a good solvent used in many industries. The chemical is colorless and a yellowish tinge may appear. The acid itself and its esters (hydrogen chloride) are poisonous.

Hydrochloric acid itself and its esters are poisonous.

Properties of hydrochloric acid

The toxicity of the substance lies in the fact that the liquid evaporates in air, releasing gas. It enters the human body through mucous membranes and skin. If it comes into contact with the skin, the acid causes a severe chemical burn. There is also hydrochloric acid in the stomach of every person. It helps the digestion process. People who have low acidity are prescribed drugs with this substance. A solution of hydrogen chloride is also used as a food additive E 507.

Hydrochloric acid and its vapors can accelerate metal corrosion. Therefore, it is stored and transported in special vessels.

Chemical damage to the skin

Burns result from exposure of the skin to high temperatures (thermal), electric fields (electric), acids or alkaline substances (chemical) and electromagnetic radiation (radiation). Thermal burns are common in everyday life.

Skin damage caused by chemicals is difficult to treat. The degree of harm is determined by the amount and concentration of acid or alkali, the characteristics of exposure and behavior in contact with water or air, as well as the period of exposure to the skin or mucous membranes. Doctors identify the following degrees of severity of a chemical burn:

• I - redness of the affected area and pain;
• II - there is edema and bubbles with transparent contents;
• III - necrosis of the upper layers of the skin and blisters with cloudy liquid or blood;
• IV - a deep lesion that reaches the muscles and tendons.

Doctors are more likely to face severe cases of III and IV degrees due to the fact that the chemical composition of the substances is very toxic and acts instantly. Therefore, people should know the symptoms of acid burns and the basics of providing emergency care in such situations in order to maintain their health or be able to provide first aid.

If hydrochloric acid gets on the skin, it is necessary to rinse the area with clean water

First aid for burns with hydrochloric acid

As a result of exposure to the toxin on the skin, a dry, dense yellowish crust with clear boundaries appears. After the contact is eliminated, the reagent continues to cause harm, so the person needs urgent help. The first thing to do if hydrochloric acid gets on the skin:

1. Remove clothing and other items from the burnt area.
2. Rinse the area with clean water for 15 minutes or more.
3. If the injury burns, continue flushing the substance.
4. After that, rinse the burn site with a solution of soda or water and soap.
5. Apply a dry, sterile dressing.

It is strictly forbidden to wash off hydrochloric acid with oils, alcoholic tinctures, urine. Doctors do not recommend piercing the blisters on their own, touching the wound with your hands, lubricating with cream or vegetable oil.

If hydrochloric acid gets into the eyes, a person needs to rinse with running water, and then with a solution of soda. Signs of injury: severe burning and pain in the eyes. If you need a professional examination by an ophthalmologist in an eye clinic, we recommend using the link mgkl.ru.

The victim needs to see a doctor who will assess the patient's condition and prescribe a course of therapy.

You can treat small chemical burns at home.

Burn treatment

A well-provided first aid increases the effectiveness of therapy and gives the victim hope for a quick recovery. The patient is examined by a surgeon, who assesses his condition and the severity of the burn. Then he explains how to treat the injury at home. If large areas of the skin are affected, then the patient is left under the constant supervision of doctors.

You can treat a small chemical burn at home according to the prescribed course. The doctor advises treating the area with antiseptic agents that do not contain alcohol. It is imperative to use drugs that help restore the normal functioning of the skin.

Clinic of poisoning with hydrochloric acid and its esters

A solution of hydrogen chloride enters the gastrointestinal tract of a person at work in case of violation of safety rules or deliberately when attempting to commit suicide. Hydrochloric acid gets on the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat, tongue and causes severe burns and poisoning. The first symptoms of damage to the esophagus and stomach:

• acute pain in the abdomen and chest;
• vomit with blood;
• laryngeal edema.

In severe cases of poisoning and in the absence of medical care, additional symptoms develop: pulmonary edema, severe pathologies of the kidneys and liver. Pain syndrome can lead to burn shock, which aggravates the victim's condition with possible loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of damage to the esophagus and stomach: acute pain in the abdomen and chest

The victim must be taken out of the room so as not to receive additional intoxication with poisonous vapors. First aid for hydrochloric acid poisoning consists in immediate gastric lavage. The patient is forced to drink about a liter of water and vomiting. If a person develops symptoms of traumatic shock, they are given sedatives or pain relievers.

The hydrogen chloride solution evaporates quickly in the open air. During this process, a toxic haze appears in the air, which damages the human respiratory tract. Symptoms of poisoning with poisonous vapors:

• dry cough;
• suffocation;
• burning of the mucous membranes;
• damage to teeth;
• disruption of the stomach and intestines.

First aid for poisoning with toxic esters is the free access of clean air and rinsing the throat with water or soda solution.

With prolonged inhalation of the poison, the clinic can be supplemented with toxic pulmonary edema. Its initial stage is characterized by chest pain and an unproductive cough. If the reagent is removed, all symptoms disappear within an hour (latency period). But at this time, the lungs begin to change and lose some function. Gradually, chest pain and shortness of breath return, which entail the appearance of wheezing and the onset of an edematous process. Completion of lung poisoning is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• bluish or gray tint of the skin and mucous membranes;
• shortness of breath and weak pulse;
• sputum waste (with blood);
• lack of oxygen in the body and others.

The victim must be immediately taken to the hospital, where the toxicologist will prescribe adequate treatment.

It is necessary to treat poisoning with acid or its vapors in the hospital

Hydrochloric acid intoxication therapy

It is necessary to treat poisoning with liquid hydrochloric acid or its vapors in a hospital. The toxicologist prescribes symptomatic therapy. The first thing a doctor does is prescribe pain relievers to rule out pain shock.

Treatment includes medications to stop bleeding, keep the stomach and intestines, lungs, cardiovascular, and liver and kidneys working. To prevent the development of the inflammatory process, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. The first couple of days the victim cannot eat, and then he is prescribed a strict diet until the end of the course of treatment.

Prevention of hydrochloric acid poisoning

Preventive measures help save lives and health. They consist in observing safety rules while working with poisons, using individual protection methods (apron, gas mask, gloves, goggles, special suit).

The management of the enterprise must ensure good ventilation of the premises, timely informing about the leakage of hydrochloric acid and prompt evacuation. Preventive measures also include briefings and trainings on first aid and emergency response.

To prevent chronic diseases, employees must undergo routine medical examinations, as well as provide themselves with the necessary amount of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Chemical burns and hydrochloric acid poisoning are serious illnesses. The high toxicity of the substance forces you to act immediately to save a person's life. People who deal with this poison must follow basic safety rules and be able to provide first aid.

An alkali burn is one of the most dangerous types of injury. Under the influence of a dangerous reagent on the skin or any other part of the human body, the strongest trauma to the surface skin tissue or mucous membrane occurs, after which the alkali penetrates into the depths of the skin and continues to act aggressively on the fiber.

An alkali burn is classified as a household or work injury. As a rule, when receiving a household injury, burns do not pose a serious threat to the victim, since in the home, exposure to a harmful reagent occurs in permissible concentrations. In the event of an occupational injury, alkali burns can have rather negative consequences for the victim.

As a rule, in enterprises and factories in the process of work, very concentrated and toxic substances are used, when interacting with which a person can get serious injury. The future health and life of the victim depends on the timeliness of the provision of primary care. It is important to remember that he is known for his complications, up to infection and the development of suppuration at the site of injury.

Burn severity and types

The depth and severity of an alkali burn depends on:

Alkali burns are classified into 4 degrees of severity:

1. The first degree - during trauma, only the surface layer of the skin is damaged. Symptoms are: redness of the skin, the appearance of slight edema, mild soreness of the damaged area.
2. The second degree is characterized by damage to the deeper layers of the skin. Symptoms of trauma are similar to the first degree, but blisters with liquid contents appear at the site of the burn.
3. Third degree - deep layers of the skin are affected, often traumatization also affects subcutaneous adipose tissue. Signs of the third degree - a feeling of acute pain, large and small blisters appear at the site of the injury, filled with a cloudy liquid, sometimes interspersed with blood.
4. The fourth degree is a danger to the victim's life. When injured, all human organs are affected: muscles, skin, tendons and, often, bone structure.

With an alkali burn, a loose, white scab (crust) forms at the site of damage. The main danger lies in the fact that the reactant, when interacting with human skin, penetrates deep into the inner layers of the skin, continuing its destructive effect.

It is very important to provide the victim with prompt primary care. If a burn of 1 or 2 degrees is observed, then the main treatment of the injury can be carried out at home, and if a 3 or 4 degree is received, the victim must be urgently taken to a medical institution.

First aid

The main task of providing first aid for burns with alkalis is washing the damaged area of ​​the skin from a harmful aggressor and then neutralizing it. The further health of the victim depends on the timeliness of the procedures provided.

How to provide first aid for an alkali burn?

Minor alkali burns do not require further treatment. To eliminate the dangerous consequences of more serious injuries, treatment is carried out in a medical institution.

Treatment

All necessary manipulations and treatment procedures are performed only after determining the degree of injury and its localization.

For the treatment of a burn with alkali, the following therapy is prescribed:

Alkali eye burn

An alkali burn of the eyes occurs due to the ingress of an alkaline solution into the mucous membrane of the eye. Injury can occur in a domestic or industrial environment. In any case, if the mucous membrane of the eye is damaged by alkalis, the victim must be taken to a medical institution to prevent negative consequences.

The severity of an alkali burn of the eye depends on several factors:

Symptoms of an alkali eye burn are:

1. photophobia;
2. lacrimation;
3. a feeling of grit at the site of injury;
4. damage to the skin layer around the eyes;
5. with complex injuries - loss of vision.

First aid for eye burns with alkali should be provided to the victim immediately. It consists in thoroughly rinsing the damaged eye with cool running water. It is necessary to open the victim's eyelids and flush the chemical reagent from the mucous membrane of the eye with a thin stream of water. The duration of the procedure is at least 20 minutes. Then take the victim to the doctor for further treatment.

In everyday life, we are more often faced with thermal burns, and therefore we have some experience in providing first aid. Much less often there are injuries from burns with chemicals: alkalis, acids, caustic solutions, heavy metal salts and other chemical compounds. However, none of us is immune from chemical burns, because chemicals surround us everywhere, they have become part of our everyday life and are often used in production.

The actions of people who unexpectedly receive chemical burns are not always correct: they try to use familiar methods that help with burns received from hot objects. As a result, they aggravate the situation and cause even more harm.

Therefore, let's talk about what the first aid is for chemical burns with acid, alkali.

Symptoms of chemical burns are obvious - they are acute pain of the affected area, edema, possible necrosis of the upper layers of the skin and deeper tissues, and even loss of consciousness due to painful shock, and the toxic effect of a chemical on the entire body is also possible.

Alkalis and concentrated acids can most strongly affect our skin, destroying them and causing burns of varying severity. How severe and painful the burns will be depends on several conditions: on the amount of the harmful substance and its concentration, as well as on the mechanism and strength of the effect of the chemical.

First aid for burns with chemicals

If acid or alkali has soaked the fabric of clothing, then it must be very carefully removed, without touching other areas of the skin, perhaps even cutting. Immediately, it is necessary to quickly and very thoroughly remove the chemical from the surface of the skin. And this is achieved only by flushing the burn with a stream of running cool water (without strong pressure). It is necessary to wash it for a long time and thoroughly, because harmful substances very quickly have time to penetrate deep into the tissue. Residual particles can also continue to act. Keep the burn under running water for at least fifteen minutes. Water will also partially relieve pain.

If it was not possible to rinse off the chemical immediately, then the rinsing time is increased two to three times.

There are often cases when they resort to using tampons or napkins that are moistened with water. They begin to wipe the affected areas. This cannot be done, because such actions only help the penetration of the chemical into the skin (its aqueous solution is absorbed even faster, and rubbing aggravates the process).

In the event that the first rinsing did not relieve severe pain, and the burning sensation continues, it is recommended to continue rinsing with water for a while.

After the water treatment, the residues of the chemical must be neutralized. In case of burns with acid, its action is neutralized with alkaline solutions, and in case of injury with caustic alkali, with acidic solutions.

For acid burns, a tampon is applied soaked in soapy water or in a 2% solution of baking soda (one teaspoon for two and a half glasses of water), or ammonia (0.5%).

A tampon with a weak solution of vinegar or citric acid will help burns from alkali. To neutralize burns from lime, it is advised to apply a 2% sugar solution. Carbolic acid can be neutralized with glycerin; milk of lime is also suitable.

To relieve pain, a cold, wet cloth can be applied to the affected area. Then you need to apply a sterile gauze bandage. If the burn is not severe, no additional medication is required, it will heal on its own.

Separately, it should be said that rinsing with water cannot be done if quicklime comes into contact with the skin (it reacts with water).

When to call an ambulance

There are situations when, in case of burns with acid or alkali, you need to urgently call for medical help:

1) the victim loses consciousness, is pale, breathing is shallow (i.e., with signs of shock);

2) the burn is extensive, more than 7.5 cm in diameter, and it touched the subcutaneous tissue;

3) skin areas in the groin, legs, buttocks, face, arms and large joints are affected; mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, esophagus.

4) a person has unbearable pain that cannot be relieved by painkillers (for example, "Ibuprofen" or "Acetaminophen").

First aid for eye contact

Eye burns are very dangerous, so it is necessary to consult a doctor promptly. The severity of a chemical eye burn will depend on the concentration of the alkali or acid and the urgency of first aid.

First steps: rinse your eyes immediately with water. This requires running water and plenty of it. It is required to open the eyelids and fill with water for fifteen minutes. If the burn occurs from acid, then milk or a solution of baking soda (two percent) will help neutralize it. If the eye is damaged by alkali, then rinse with a solution of boric acid (half a teaspoon per glass) or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. After rinsing the eyes, it is recommended to apply a dry sterile bandage and take the victim to the hospital.

Chemical damage to the stomach and esophagus

Sometimes a person accidentally or intentionally ingests an acid or alkali. At the same time, she experiences severe pain in the entire alimentary tract and stomach. With the defeat of the larynx, there is a lack of air. There may be vomiting with pieces of bloody mucous membrane. It is necessary to urgently call for medical help and rinse the victim's stomach.

The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. A specialist consultation is required!

Chemical burns: causes, signs and symptoms, first aid measures and complex therapy
Almost all chemicals are endowed with the necessary strength that can have a destructive effect on the tissues of the human body. Alkalis and concentrated acids are especially strong in this regard. As soon as they begin to affect the human body, they immediately appear chemical burns. First aid with such burns, it provides, first of all, thorough rinsing of the affected area with running water, since only in this way it is possible to get rid of the aggressive component. After that, it is recommended to apply a sterile dressing to the affected area. If a chemical component gets into the eyes or a person swallows it, then first of all, you should rinse the eye or stomach, and then consult an ambulance doctor.

Chemical burn is tissue damage resulting from exposure to heavy metal salts, acids, corrosive liquids, alkalis or any other chemically active components. This kind of burns occur due to safety violations, due to domestic accidents, as a result of derivative injuries or suicide attempts. There are other factors that contribute to their development. The severity and depth of such burns directly depends on the following factors:

• concentration and amount of a chemical
• mechanism of action and strength of a chemical
• the degree of penetration and duration of exposure to a chemical

In terms of depth, as well as the severity of tissue damage, four degrees of chemical burns are distinguished

First degree (damage to the upper layer of the skin, epidermis). In this case, there is a slight swelling, redness, as well as mild pain at the site of the lesion.

Second degree (damage to the deeper layers of the skin). In this case, redness and swelling occur, as well as bubbles filled with a clear liquid.

Third degree (damage to the deeper layers of the skin, reaching the subcutaneous adipose tissue) is accompanied by the appearance of blisters, which are filled with a cloudy liquid or bloody contents. In this case, a violation of sensitivity is noted, that is, the person does not experience pain in the area of ​​the affected area.

Fourth degree (damage to all tissues: skin, muscles, tendons).

In most cases, chemical burns are third and fourth degree.

If a burn occurs under the influence of alkalis and acids, then a so-called scab or crust appears at the site of the lesion. The crust that appears after exposure to alkalis is loose, whitish, soft and does not stand out from the whole tissue by any boundaries. If we compare alkaline liquids with acidic liquids, then immediately it is worth noting that the former tend to penetrate much deeper into tissues, therefore, they cause more significant harm.

In case of acid burns the crust is hard and dry. In addition, it has clearly defined boundaries that distinguish it from healthy areas of the skin. Plus, acid burns are often superficial.
The color of the affected area skin in case of a chemical burn is determined by the type of chemical. If the skin has been exposed to sulfuric acid, then initially it becomes white, and only then it turns brown or gray. If the skin has been burned with nitric acid, then the affected area becomes yellow-brown or light yellow-green. Hydrochloric acid tends to leave yellowish burns, but acetic acid is off-white. With carbolic acid burns, the affected area first becomes white, and only then brown. In the event of a concentrated hydrogen peroxide burn, the affected area becomes gray.

It should be noted that the skin tissue continues to deteriorate even after the chemical component ceases to come into contact with it, and this is because the process of absorption of the chemical in this case does not stop immediately. As a result, it is simply impossible to establish the exact degree of the burn during the first hours or days after the incident. It will be possible to make an accurate diagnosis only after seven to ten days, namely when the process of suppuration of the formed crust begins. The danger and severity of this kind of burns is determined by both its area and depth. The larger the area of ​​the lesion, the more dangerous the burn is for the patient's life.

First aid for chemical burns of the skin

First aid in such cases provides for: the fastest possible removal of the chemical component from the affected area, reducing the concentration of its residues on the skin by thorough rinsing with water, as well as cooling the affected area in order to reduce pain.

In case of a chemical burn of the skin, the following measures should be taken:

• You should immediately remove clothing or jewelry containing chemical components.
• To get rid of the causes of the burn, it is necessary to wash off the chemicals from the skin, while holding the affected area under cold running water for at least a quarter of an hour. If it was not possible to rinse the affected area in a timely manner, then the rinsing time is increased to thirty to forty minutes. You should not try to get rid of chemicals with tampons or wipes moistened with water, as this will lead to their even stronger penetration into the skin. If the chemical component is endowed with a powdery form, then first you need to remove its remnants from the skin and only then proceed to rinsing the affected area. Exceptions to the rules are cases when there is a categorical contraindication of the interaction of a chemical component with water. This applies, for example, to aluminum, since organic compounds of this substance tend to ignite on contact with water.
• If, after the first rinsing, a person begins to experience an even stronger burning sensation, then it is recommended to rinse the affected area again with running water for five to six minutes.
• As soon as the affected area is washed, you should proceed to neutralize the chemical components. In case of acid burns, you should use soapy water or 2% baking soda solution. Such a solution is not difficult to prepare: you should take two and a half glasses of water and dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in it. In case of a burn with alkali, a weak solution of vinegar or citric acid will come to the rescue. The chemical components of lime can be neutralized with a 2% sugar solution. Carbolic acid lends itself to neutralization with milk of lime and glycerin.
• You can reduce pain by using a cold, damp cloth or towel, which should be applied to the affected area.
• After that, we apply a loose bandage made from a clean dry tissue or a dry sterile bandage to the affected surface.

If the burn is not severe, then it heals without any medication.

With a chemical burn, urgent medical attention is needed in the following cases:

• If a person has signs of shock such as pale skin, loss of consciousness, and shallow breathing.
• If the diameter of the burn is more than seven and a half centimeters, and it also penetrated deeper than the first layer of the skin.
• The chemical damage affected the groin, legs, eyes, buttocks, face, arms or large joints, as well as the esophagus and mouth.
• A person experiences very strong pain sensations, which cannot be eliminated with painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

If you nevertheless decide to get expert advice, then do not forget to take dishes with the chemical that caused the burn, or a detailed description of it. This will make it possible to neutralize it much faster, which sometimes cannot be done in ordinary home conditions.

Chemical eye burns

Chemical eye burns are the result of lime, acids, ammonia, alkalis or other chemical components getting into this area at work or at home. In fact, burns in this area are extremely dangerous, which is why they require timely access to a specialist doctor. The severity of chemical eye burns is determined by the concentration, temperature, chemical composition, as well as the amount of the substance that provoked the burn. In addition, the general reactivity of the patient's body, the condition of his eyes, as well as the quality and timeliness of first aid are also taken into account. In most cases, with such burns, the patient has the following subjective sensations: lacrimation, fear of light, cutting pains in the eye area. In very severe cases, the patient may lose sight altogether. We note right away that with such burns, not only the eyes are affected, but also the skin around them. It is very important to provide first aid to a person in a timely manner. First of all, he needs to rinse his eyes with plenty of running water as quickly as possible. We spread the eyelids and rinse the eye for ten to fifteen minutes. In this case, water is the main neutralizer of chemical components. If the burn is caused by alkali, then milk can be used instead of water. As soon as the eye is thoroughly washed, take a piece of gauze or bandage and apply a dry bandage. As soon as this is done, immediately take the patient to the doctor.

Chemical burns of the stomach and esophagus

Chemical burns of both the stomach and esophagus are the result of deliberate or accidental ingestion of alkalis such as ammonia or concentrated acids such as battery electrolyte or vinegar essence. The obvious signs of such burns include very strong pain in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and stomach. If the larynx has also been affected, then the patient begins to experience a lack of air. In addition, vomiting, containing bloody mucus and pieces of burnt mucous membrane, makes itself felt. Since this kind of burns spreads very quickly, the patient needs immediate first aid, which includes, first of all, gastric lavage. It can be washed with a solution of baking soda for a burn with acids, or with a weak solution of acetic acid for a burn with alkalis. In this case, a person needs to be given to drink not just a large, but a really huge amount of liquid, which will make it possible to completely get rid of the chemical component. With such burns, you should call an ambulance as soon as possible or take the patient to the hospital yourself.

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Many chemicals are powerful enough to destroy tissues in the human body. Concentrated acids and alkalis have the greatest destructive potential. When exposed to acids and alkalis on the human body, chemical burns are formed. First aid for chemical burns includes abundant rinsing of the burn site with running water to remove an aggressive substance, applying a sterile dressing to the burn site. If the chemical has been swallowed or got into the eyes, then in addition to washing the stomach or eyes, call an ambulance.

Is tissue damage caused by acids, alkalis, heavy metal salts, corrosive liquids and other chemically active substances. Chemical burns occur as a result of industrial injuries, safety violations, accidents at home, as a result of suicide attempts, etc. The depth and severity of a chemical burn depends on:

• the strength and mechanism of action of a chemical
• the amount and concentration of a chemical
• the duration of exposure and the degree of penetration of the chemical

According to the severity and depth of tissue damage, burns are divided into 4 degrees:

1. I degree (damage to the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin). With a first-degree burn, there is slight redness, swelling and slight soreness on the affected area of ​​the skin
2. II degree (damage to the deeper layers of the skin). A second-degree burn is characterized by the appearance of vesicles with transparent contents on the reddened and edematous skin.
3. III degree (damage to the deeper layers of the skin up to the subcutaneous adipose tissue) is characterized by the appearance of blisters filled with cloudy liquid or bloody contents, and impaired sensitivity (the burn area is painless).
4. IV degree burns (damage to all tissues: skin, muscles, tendons, down to bones).

Most often, chemical burns of the skin refer to burns of the III and IV degrees.

In case of burns with acids and alkalis, a scab (crust) forms at the burn site. The scab formed after burns with alkalis is whitish, soft, loose, passing into adjacent tissues without sharp boundaries.
Alkaline liquids are more destructive than acidic ones due to their ability to penetrate deep into tissues.
With acid burns, the scab is usually dry and hard, with a sharply demarcated line at the site of transition to healthy skin areas. Acid burns are usually superficial.
The color of the affected skin, with a chemical burn, depends on the type of chemical agent. Leather burnt with sulfuric acid is first white in color, and subsequently changes color to gray or brown. In case of a nitric acid burn, the affected area of ​​the skin has a light yellow-green or yellow-brown tint. Hydrochloric acid - leaves yellow burns, acetic acid - off-white burns, carbolic acid - white, then turning brown.
A burn caused by concentrated hydrogen peroxide has a grayish tint.
The destruction of tissue under the influence of a chemical substance continues even after the termination of direct contact with it, since the absorption of the chemical substance on the burned area continues for some time. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine the degree of tissue damage in the first hours or even days after the injury. The true depth of the burn is usually revealed only 7-10 days after a chemical burn, when the scab begins to fester.
The severity and danger of chemical burns depends not only on the depth, but also on its area. The larger the area of ​​the burn, the more dangerous it is for the victim's life.

First aid for chemical burns of the skin

First aid for chemical burns of the skin includes: the speedy removal of the chemical from the affected surface, reducing the concentration of its residues on the skin due to copious rinsing with water cooling the affected areas to reduce pain.

If you have a chemical burn to your skin, take the following measures:

• Take off immediately any clothing or jewelry that has come into contact with the chemicals.
• To eliminate the cause of the burn, rinse off the chemicals from the skin surface by holding the affected area under cold running water for at least 20 minutes. If help with a chemical burn is provided with some delay, the duration of washing is increased to 30-40 minutes.
• Do not try to remove chemicals with wipes, swabs and water from the affected area of ​​the skin - this will rub the chemical even more into the skin.
• If the corrosive substance that caused the burn has a powdery structure (for example, lime), then first remove the residual chemical substance and only then proceed to washing the burnt surface. The exceptions are cases when, due to the chemical nature of the agent, contact with water is contraindicated. For example, aluminum, its organic compounds, when combined with water, ignite.
• If, after the first washing of the wound, the burning sensation intensifies, rinse the burned area again with running water for a few more minutes.
• After washing off a chemical burn, it is necessary to neutralize the effect of chemicals if possible. If you get acid burns, wash the damaged area with soapy water or 2% baking soda solution (this is 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 2.5 cups of water) to neutralize the acid.
• If you get burned with alkali, wash the damaged area with a weak solution of citric acid or vinegar. For burns with lime, a 20% sugar solution is used to neutralize.
• Carbolic acid is neutralized by glycerin and milk of lime.
• Apply a cold, damp cloth or towel to the affected area to relieve pain.
• Then apply a loose dressing of dry sterile bandage or clean dry cloth to the burned area.

Minor chemical burns to the skin usually heal without further treatment.

For a chemical burn, seek emergency medical attention if:

• The victim has signs of shock (loss of consciousness, pallor, shallow breathing).
• The chemical burn has spread deeper than the first layer of the skin and covers an area with a diameter of more than 7.5 cm.
• A chemical burn affects the eyes, arms, legs, face, groin, buttocks or large joint area, as well as the mouth and esophagus (if the victim has drunk the chemical).
• The victim feels intense pain that cannot be relieved with over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

When going to the emergency room, bring a container with a chemical or a detailed description of the chemical to identify it. The known nature of the chemical makes it possible to neutralize it in hospital care, which is usually difficult to do in a domestic environment.

Chemical eye burns

Chemical burns of the eyes occur when acids, alkalis, lime, ammonia and other aggressive chemicals get into them in the conditions of everyday life or production. All chemical eye burns are serious eye injuries and therefore require immediate examination and treatment by a doctor.

The severity of eye burns depends on the chemical composition, concentration, amount and temperature of the substance that caused the burn, on the condition of the victim's eyes and the general reactivity of the body, as well as on the timeliness and quality of first aid to the victim. Regardless of the type of chemical, eye burns are usually accompanied by severe subjective sensations: photophobia, cutting pain in the eye and lacrimation, and in severe cases, loss of vision. At the same time, the skin around the eyes is affected.

First aid for chemical eye burns should be provided immediately. The main measure in providing first aid for chemical eye burns is immediate and copious rinsing of the eyes with running water. You should open your eyelids and rinse your eye for 10-15 minutes with a gentle stream of running water to remove the chemical.

You should not waste time looking for a neutralizer, since rinsing the eyes with running water is much more effective. For burns with alkalis, milk can be used for washing. After washing, you must apply a dry bandage (a piece of bandage or gauze). But most importantly - in all cases of chemical eye burns - see a doctor as soon as possible.

Chemical burns of the esophagus and stomach

Chemical burns of the esophagus and stomach occur when accidentally or deliberately (with a suicidal purpose) ingestion of concentrated acids (vinegar essence, battery electrolyte) or alkalis (ammonia). The main symptoms of chemical burns of the digestive system are reduced to severe pain in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach. If at the same time the upper part of the larynx is burned, the patients begin to suffocate.

Vomiting appears with bloody mucus and scraps of burnt mucous membrane. Due to the rapid spread of the burn through the digestive tract, first aid should be provided as early as possible. First aid for chemical burns of the esophagus and stomach consists in neutralizing chemical agents. For burns with alkalis, the stomach is washed with a weak solution of acetic acid, and for burns with acids - with a solution of baking soda. Be sure to wash the stomach with large amounts of liquid, ensuring complete removal of the chemical agent that caused the burn. An injured person with a burn to the esophagus or stomach should be referred to a medical center or hospital as soon as possible.