Burn caused by acid, hot slake lime and tar: some principles for primary management

ABSTRACT

The author showed some principles in primary management for chemical burn. After burning, the lesion should be treated immediately by pouring cold fresh water continuously for 10-15 minutes on the lesion. Then the lesion should be treated depends on causes. For acid-caused burn, wash the lesion by diluted base solutions, then applying the bicarbonate sodium solution 10-20%-soaked bandage. For base-caused burn, use diluted acid solutions to wash. For burn due to hot slake lime, the lesion can be washed by fresh water, sugar solution 20% or ammonium chloride 10%, then dressed by acid boric 3%-soaked bandage. For burn lesions related to hot tar, use vegetable oil and petroleum with ratio of 3:1 to clear the hot tar on the skin, then treat the burning lesion.