Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping – and the UK’s appetite for barbecues has left supermarket shelves stripped of burgers and sausages.
Unfortunately, this BBQ frenzy has already claimed its first casualties, at least in my friendship circle. Over the weekend, a mate of mine, fuelled by Echo Falls Rosé, managed to burn his forearm on the grill rack while flipping burgers. Thankfully, several medically trained friends were on hand to douse the burn with cold water and administer first aid. He escaped relatively unscathed.
But summer is a hotbed – literally – for burn-related injuries, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening. Yet many people try to brush them off, slap on a brave face, or dismiss sound advice.
To understand how burns affect the body, it’s helpful to start with a crash course in skin anatomy.
Anatomy of a burn
The skin is composed of three distinct layers, each with a specific role. It sits above the dermis, which contains your blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat glands and nerve endings that help you sense temperature and touch. These burns cause redness and pain because nerves are irritated but intact. A mild sunburn is a good example.
Partial thickness burns also known as second-degree burns: go deeper into the dermis, resulting in redness, pain and blistering. Many of us have experienced these after touching something unexpectedly hot. Fortunately, quick reflexes often save us from more serious injury.
Full thickness burns also known as third-degree burns: are the most severe. Instead of red, the skin may appear white, grey, or even black due to charring. Counter-intuitively, these burns can be painless because the nerve endings have been destroyed.
So while it might seem like a good sign if a burn doesn’t hurt, it may actually indicate far more serious harm. And some burn wounds can include a mix of different depth injuries.
Size matters, too. You may need a tetanus boost if your immunisations aren’t up to date. Burns in children should always receive medical attention, too.
Summertime burn hazards
So what dangers lurk beneath the summer sun, some obvious, some less so?
Sunburn is the most common, and most easily preventable, seasonal burn. Worse still, it increases the risk of dehydration, heatstroke, and skin cancer. Sun protection is vital.
While lovely on long summer evenings, campfires pose another risk. Always monitor fires closely, keep flammable liquids well away, and make sure there’s a safe distance between the fire and spectators.
As we’ve already heard, BBQs – whether at home or on the beach, are also burn hazards. Beach BBQs are popular, but potentially problematic since they can heat the sand or pebbles to extremely hot temperatures. Always keep them well supervised during use, and clear up after using a BBQ properly.
I’ve seen patients with horrific foot burns from stepping on searing hot sand, including where coals were buried. Please don’t bury BBQ remains – have courtesy to other beachgoers, and stay safe.
What to do after a burn
Every burn deserves proper care, no matter how small. :
Cool the area under gently running water for at least 20 minutes. Avoid ice or freezing water – it can make things worse.
Cover the burn with clingfilm. It protects against infection, doesn’t stick to the wound, and allows for easy monitoring.
Decide on medical care. If you’re unsure, always err on the side of caution and get it checked out.
So while this summer shows no signs of cooling down, make sure you at least stay cool – and safe. Take care around heat sources, and treat every burn with the seriousness it deserves, even if that means a trip to accident and emergency.,
