Caustication, electrocution, heat and radiation: the different types of burns

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 18, 2023

A burn is an injury to the integumentary tissues (skin and skin appendages) which can be caused by the action of:

heat (thermal burns) from flames, red-hot metal bodies such as irons or stoves, hot liquids such as boiling water or frying oil, sunlight);
chemicals (caustics) from muriatic acid, ammonia, caustic soda. They can be caused by over 25,000 types of substances, many of which are strong bases (55%) or strong acids (26%). Most deaths from chemical burns are due to ingestion of the caustic;

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electric current (electrocution) classified as arising from high voltage (greater than or equal to 1 000 volts), low voltage (less than 1 000 volts) or as secondary burns due to an electric arc; in children they are often caused by contact with electrical cables (60%) or electrical outlets (14%). Lightning can also cause burns, often extremely severe;
Radiation: Radiation burns can be caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays (such as those from the sun, tanning booths, or welding processes) or ionizing radiation (such as from radiation therapy, x-rays, or fallout radioactive). Sun exposure, in particular, is the most common cause of superficial radiation burns.

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Different types of burns, different methods of intervention

Burns can be of various entities according to the intensity of the temperature, the duration of the contact and the physical state of the burning substance (solid, liquid or gaseous).

The topic of burns is very complex, and must be treated from individual points of view, since the intervention of a rescuer, a nurse and a doctor are very different from each other.

We refer you to the in-depth articles to find the content that best suits your needs.

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