First Aid Help For Burns

By Roger Henry

Burns are classified in order of their severity and involvement in the tissues of the body; the classifications are: first, second and third degree burns. First aid for burns is specific to the burn injury. First aid for burns varies slightly from the less serious burns to the severe. Second degree burns can be as severe as some third degree burns if they cover a major portion of the body, or on tender areas of the arms, hands and feet.

First degree burns and first aid

The epidermis or the outermost layer of your skin is what is affected in a first degree burn. In the first degree burn the epidermis sometimes called the body's raincoat since it protects you from external elements and bacteria is not burned too badly. Unless sensitive areas such as the face, hands, feet, groin and buttock are affected, it is considered a minor burn. The first thing to do is to get away from the heat. Apply cool water in order to cool the burn. This will help ease the swelling and diminish the pain. A cool compress should be applied if available.

First aid and second degree burns

Second degree burns penetrate down to the dermis, which is the second layer of skin. There is a layer of fluid that collects between the epidermis and the dermis, which causes blistering. Severe pain is associated with a second degree burn due to swelling. As with the first degree burns the first aid for burns are the same. Remove yourself from the source of the burn. Run water over the burn or if that isn't feasible, place moist towels over the burn for 15 minutes to cool reduce the swelling and cool the burn. If the second degree burn is larger than 3 inches treat it as a major burn, especially if the burn is on the face, hands, feet, buttocks, groin or major joint. Large second degree burns should be treated like an emergency. Dial 911 and get medical help immediately.

Giving first aid to third degree burns

You would think that in third degree burns you would feel excruciating pain. But this is not true because the nerve endings have been burned away. It is hard to evaluate the severity of a third degree burn at first. The burn may have gone through fatty tissues or gone through muscle tissue or even right to the bone. Some PHDs even refer to a fourth degree burn when it has gone to the bone.

For 3rd degree burns, start by making sure that the victim is moved to a safe area. Call 911 or anyone else that can help. In the meantime get the victim to lay down with their feet positioned high above their heart. This will help to alleviate any symptoms of shock. Do not soak the injury in water as this may cause the victim to go into shock. Get a wet cool cloth and apply to the burned area to try and cool things down a little. Do not remove any clothing that appears to be stuck to the wound. Let the pros take care of the victim when they arrive. - 29972

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Diet, Blood Pressure, Good Health

By Dave Merril

Relation Between Diet and Blood Pressure - If you have Bad eating habits then it contributes significantly to unhealthily high blood pressure levels, even in middle age, when blood pressure levels typically rise as part of the aging process. Whether or not you are taking antihypertensive drugs, the need to make dietary improvements (eg. follow a healthy low-fat diet) is frequently at the top of a doctor's list of recommendations to reduce or prevent the onset of high blood pressure. Before outlining the best type of diet for hypertension, let's take a brief look at health consequences of raised blood pressure.

Under-developed countries, and even some that aren't , often have populations up to 40% that struggle with chronic high blood pressure. This not only strains the heart, leading to heart attacks, but may cause problems with other organs. Strokes, kidney failure and eye damage are all common results of high blood pressure. This "silent killer" will often cause damage before you even realize there is a problem.

Normal Blood Pressure Levels vs. Pre hypertensive and Hypertensive - Normal blood pressure of an healthy adult at rest, is 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic) or less. Blood pressure levels greater than 120/80 and below 140/90 are at pre hypertensive stage, while levels above 140/90 are considered hypertensive stage. Both pre hypertensive and hypertensive subjects should make diet, exercise and lifestyle changes to reduce or prevent the onset of hypertension and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Body weight will affect blood pressure. Overweight people will have higher incidences of high blood pressure. By losing weight, the risk is decreased. Obesity actually doubles the risk; seven out of ten adults considered obese also suffer with high blood pressure.

Choose A Healthy Balanced Diet - If you want to reduce your blood pressure, your diet should be rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods, while low in saturated and trans-fats. It should also be low in cholesterol, high in fiber, calcium, potassium and magnesium, and moderately high in protein. The American Heart Association and U.S. government recommend the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet) as a good diet guide to reduce blood pressure.

Too much sodium and salt also affects blood pressure. This works because the salt causes fluid to be retained in your body. The volume overload leads to high blood pressure. It may also strain the arterioles. These are the blood vessels that regulate blood pressure and flow. The daily intake of sodium is 2,400 mg for most people.

To decrease sodium, eat fewer processed foods. Sodium occurs naturally in fresh foods, but the quantity is much lower that for processed food (such as canned or frozen dinners). Condiments, such as BBQ, soy, and steak sauces, salt dressings and other are high in sodium. Picked foods, sodas, and instant foods are also high in sodium. Learn to read labels to help you make appropriate food choices.

To help lower salt intake check labels of food containers. Choose those foods which labeled as low-sodium, very low sodium, or salt-free. Check food labels for words that indicate a high sodium content, including: sodium nitrite, sodium proprionate, disodium phosphate, and sodium sulfate., monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide,

Lower Sodium eating habits: Do not add extra salt when cooking or preparing meals. Cook with more herbs and spices. Do not have salt on the table while eating. Do not add salt on salad. If you cook with salt, switch to chili, ginger and lemon juice for flavoring. If you eat cured/smoked meats, switch to fresh cold meats. If you eat ready-to-serve breakfast cereal, choose low-sodium types of cereal. Rinse before eating, if you eat tuna, salmon, sardines, or mackerel canned in water. If you eat soup, switch to low-sodium or fresh soups. If you cook with whole milk, switch to 1 percent or skimmed buttermilk. Remember taking less salt in your diet will help keep your blood pressure within normal Limits. - 29972

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