Tags

, , , ,

I was moved to act after reading a post today:

http://kindnessblog.com/2014/08/27/the-love-of-a-mother-and-her-3-year-old-daughter-who-were-attacked-with-acid-by-their-husbandfather/

I’ve made a donation to Acid Survivors Trust International. http://www.acidviolence.org/ I find it hard to understand how one human being could do this to another and living with the effects must be incredibly difficult…

In case you are ever at the scene and need to help a victim of an acid attack, please read and follow the advice below:

First Aid Information

Pre-hospital Approach to Acid and Burns Patient Management

1. S.A.F.E approach: as for all pre-hospital emergencies

Shout/call for help
Assess the scene
Free from danger
Evaluate the casualty

2. Stop the burning process (in case of fire for example: stop, drop and roll); remove the burning source.

Remove all burnt/burning clothing (unless stuck to the patient) and jewellery making sure that the First Aider doesn’t sustain acid burns themselves to their hands or other parts!

The most critical aspect of acid burn care is the constant and prolonged washing of the area with water at a room temperature to get the acid out immediately! It will benefit the victim immensely to be taken to the nearest source of running water for dousing for at least half an hour to try and wash the acid away before subsequent care.

3. The patient should be rushed to specialized medical care or dial the emergency number. If suitable first aid is not provided to the patient the procedure becomes lengthy and increases patient suffering.

Bring bagged clothing to hospital for examination.

4. All treatments need to be conducted in sterile environments and antiseptic dressings and antibiotics should be provided along side.

5. If the wound is painless there is a chance that the wound is deep. Superficial burns are more painful and the patient should be aided with painkillers.

6. An early recognition, leading to immediate help and then eventual reconstructive surgery all lead to less scarring, less deformity and speed up the rehabilitation process.