med 18

Burns Caused by Heat

They fall into two categories:

¾ Severe burns—affecting large areas of skin, e.g. burns

caused when burning ether or boiling water is spilled

over the victim

¾ Minor burns—affecting a small area of skin, e.g. burns

caused by hot glassware or a Bunsen flame.

Severe Burns

a. If the victim is on fire, e.g. if splashed with burning

ether or other inflammable solvent, roll him in a

blanket or overall to smother the flames.

b. Inform the physician on duty immediately.

c. Lay the victim on the ground. Do not remove his

clothing. Cover him if he is cold.

d. Do not apply any treatment to the burns. This must be

left to the physician.

Minor Burns

a. Plunge the affected part into cold water or ice-water

to soothe the pain.

b. Apply mercurochrome or acriflavine ointment to the

burn.

c. Apply a dry gauze dressing loosely.

d. If the burn becomes infected or does not heal, refer

the patient to a physician.

Note: Never tear off the blisters that form over the burns.

Injuries Caused by Broken Glass

These are caused by broken test tubes, syringes or other

glassware.

a. Wash the wound immediately to remove any glass

pieces.

b. Apply mercurochrome or acriflavine ointment to the

wound.

c. Cover with gauze and adhesive tape.

d. If the cut bleeds profusely, stop the bleeding by

pressing down on it with a compress. Refer the patient

to a physician.

e. If the cut bleeds heavily with the blood spurting out at

intervals, try to stop the bleeding with a compress and

call a physician or qualified nurse.

f. Continue to press on the wound while awaiting the

physician’s or nurse’s arrival. He or she will decide

whether a tourniquet should be applied.

Contamination by Infected Material

Wounds caused by broken glassware containing stools,

pus, etc.

a. Wash the wound immediately.

b. Check whether the cut is bleeding. If not, squeeze hard

to make it bleed for several minutes.

c. Bathe the whole area, i.e. the edges of the cut and

inside the cut, with antiseptic lotion.

d. Wash thoroughly with soapy water.

e. Bathe again with antiseptic lotion.

f. Refer the patient to a physician, if the material involved

is known to be very infective, e.g. pus.

If infected material is accidentally sucked into the mouth:

a. Spit it out immediately.

b. Wash out the mouth with diluted antiseptic lotion.

c. Wash out the mouth thoroughly with large amounts

of clean water.

Bodily Damage by Electric Shock

A low-voltage alternating electric current (220 V) is usually

used in the laboratory and electric shocks are rare. They

may occur when faulty equipment is being handled,

particularly with wet hands. The symptoms are fainting

and asphyxia.

a. Before doing anything else, put off the main switch.

b. Send for a physician.

c. Begin giving mouth-to-mouth respiration immediately

if required (Fig. 1.6).

Precautions for the Avoidance of Accidents

1. Handling acids and alkalis

a. Diluting sulfuric acid with water: Always add the

sulfuric acid to the water drop by drop, stirring

14 Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations the mixture after each drop. Do this preferably

in a sink. Never pour water into sulfuric acid

(because of the danger of splashing).

b. Bottles of acids and alkalis: Keep them on the

lower shelves of the cupboards. When you take

one out, hold it firmly upright with a dry hand.

Do not keep acids and alkalis in bottles with

ground glass stoppers as they may get stuck.

c. Pipetting: Where possible, use small measuring

cylinders for measuring acids and alkalis. If more

accurate measurement is required, use a pipette

plugged with non-absorbent cotton wool or with

a rubber tube attached. Pipette slowly, watching

the level of the liquid.