Accidents are inevitable in life, and burns are a common accident. After being scalded by hot water, it is important to handle the emergency situation properly. In addition to proper treatment, diet after scalding is also very important. Here, the editor will introduce the dietary taboos after being scalded by boiling water.
【Foods to Avoid after being Scalded by Boiling Water】
1. Avoid Spicy and Heat-inducing Foods
Burn patients are very sensitive to spicy foods, which can hinder wound healing and cause swelling. Common spicy foods include pig's head meat, sow meat, dog meat, deer meat, quail eggs, carp, coriander, garlic seedlings, and chives.
Burn patients have excessive internal heat and should avoid spicy and heat-inducing foods such as chili peppers, chili sauce, onions, and pepper powder, as they can further generate heat. Foods that are fried or grilled can cause indigestion and generate heat, such as fried pork chops, roasted chicken, roasted duck, pancakes, and deep-fried dough sticks. Therefore, it is best to avoid consuming these heat-inducing foods.
2. Avoid Foods that Cause Gas
Common examples include bamboo shoots, hair bamboo shoots, chives, celery, and spinach. When these foods are consumed by burn victims with impaired gastrointestinal function, they can cause bloating and affect digestion. Therefore, it is best to eat less or avoid these fibrous foods that cause gas.
3. Avoid Stimulating Foods
Stimulating foods can easily lead to wound inflammation and infection. Spicy foods such as chili peppers, ginger, garlic, onions, and tobacco and alcohol should not be consumed after being scalded. Stimulating foods can hinder wound healing and weaken the immune system. Additionally, nicotine in cigarettes can stimulate blood vessel constriction, which is not conducive to the healing of skin wounds, while alcohol can dilate blood vessels and promote blood circulation.
When there is an infection, alcohol should be avoided, especially during the early stage when a large amount of protein is released. Although drinking tea can replenish fluids, excessive consumption of tea can dilute gastric juice and affect the absorption of protein by the body. Therefore, after a scalding blister forms, it is advisable to drink more water and stay away from tobacco, alcohol, and tea.
【Treatment after being Scalded by Boiling Water】
1. Move away from the Heat Source
First, quickly move away from the heat source and carefully remove clothing from the burned area to expose the wound. If clothing is stuck to the skin and cannot be removed, it can be cut with scissors instead of forcibly removing it to avoid further damage to the wound.
2. Protect the Wound
The scalded area should be protected from direct sunlight, and the bandaged wound should not come into contact with water. The burned area should also be minimally moved to prevent friction between the wound and the gauze, which can prolong the healing time of the wound.
3. Cool down and Dissipate Heat
Immediately after being burned, the wound will retain a lot of heat, so it needs to be cooled down to prevent deeper burns to the skin. You can rinse the wound with edible liquor (20~50 degrees white liquor, not alcohol) or the second rinse water from washing rice (using purified water or cold boiled water to wash rice, and taking the second rinse water) to cool down the wound. You can also soak a cotton pad in white liquor and apply it to the affected area to absorb the residual heat from the burn, which can alleviate pain and prevent blistering.
4. Treatment of Blisters
Blisters caused by burns should be punctured; otherwise, they can easily become infected and hinder the absorption of medication, which is detrimental to wound recovery. Small blisters can be punctured with a sterilized needle, and the water should be drained. Large blisters can be opened with sterilized scissors to drain the water. After puncturing the blisters, do not cut off the blistered skin or tear it off with your hands, as the blistered skin can protect the wound and prevent infection and inflammation.
