Boy severely burned from experimenting with alcohol at home

According to the patient’s father, at the time of the incident, the child was playing alone in the bathroom. The family did not know that the child was playing with alcohol until they heard cries for help and discovered flames coming from the child’s body. Relatives immediately put out the fire and quickly took the child to the National Children’s Hospital for emergency treatment.

At the Emergency and Poison Control Department, through examination and necessary tests, doctors diagnosed the child with second-third degree alcohol thermal burns, covering about 19% of the body surface area.

Master, Specialist II Doctor Phung Cong Sang - Head of the Burn Unit, Deputy Head of the Orthopedic Department, National Children's Hospital said that immediately upon admission, the child was given emergency treatment according to a specialized treatment regimen: Sedation, pain relief, fluid replacement, cleaning the burn and bandaging the wound with specialized gauze that has antiseptic and pain-relieving effects, minimizing further burns.

During the treatment process, the team of doctors and nurses not only focus on wound care but also stabilize the child's psychology, provide nutritional guidance and psychological counseling, helping the child to better receive treatment.

Thanks to being taken to the hospital promptly and treated properly, the child's health has stabilized and he has been discharged.

Burns caused by burning alcohol are one of the common causes of thermal burns in daily life, especially in children who are curious and like to explore and experiment with flammable substances. Most incidents occur when there is no adult supervision.

Alcohol burns are also divided into three levels like thermal burns: mild, moderate and severe. At any level, timely and proper first aid plays an important role in limiting damage and preventing complications.

When an alcohol burn occurs, parents need to: Stop contact with the alcohol source, move the child away from the fire area to avoid re-burning, if clothing is on fire, extinguish the fire by covering the burned area with a wet towel or cloth, do not use flammable materials such as nylon to extinguish the fire; remove clothing and accessories around the burned area, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces.

Parents should cool the burned area by pouring or placing the wound under clean, cool water for 10–30 minutes (pay attention to keeping the unburned area warm, avoiding hypothermia in children). Absolutely do not use ice or apply ice directly because it can make the injury worse.

Gently bandage the burn area with clean gauze or a sterile towel, avoiding bandaging too tightly. Do not apply medication to the burn area without a doctor's instructions. After first aid, take the child to the nearest medical facility for examination and timely treatment.

In addition to first aid, preventing alcohol burns is an important measure to avoid unfortunate accidents. Doctors recommend: Store alcohol and flammable substances in a safe place, out of reach of children; follow the instructions when using alcohol, do not try to burn alcohol in a closed space or in a place with many flammable objects; equip children with basic first aid knowledge and guide them to recognize dangers, proactively prevent accidents in daily life.

THIEN LAMB

Source: https://nhandan.vn/be-trai-bong-nang-do-tu-lam-thi-nghiem-voi-con-tai-nha-post922327.html