TANKER EXPLOSION
Thanks to Marcus Morton for permission to use his story and photos.
"Carrying Hot AC Oil (Liquefied Rubber), used to pave highways. Comes out of truck at 425 degrees.
During cleanout, lid was opened, made contact with air, mixture of Diesel and oil ignited while atop. 9 years ago. 2011. Pic in Black shirt is current."
Like we mentioned in the last post, burn injuries that involve any part of the airway should be considered a critical emergency even if not immediately presenting as such.
In the minutes to hours following thermal insult to the upper and lower airway, large amounts of tissue damage can cause swelling of the vocal chords and trachea and all the way down to the lungs. The airway occlusion may not happen right away, and delaying emergency care could mean your friend or co-worker drowns in their own secretions in the back of your car instead of receiving appropriate care in the hands of professionals in an ambulance or ED.
Assuming there is no neck or back injury, position the victim to allow for airway secretions to naturally drain from the mouth (there may be a seemingly constant flow if burns are bad enough).
Out in the wilderness and get bitten by the campfire? Dehydration and hypothermia is actually a serious risk with long term burn injuries because of fluid loss from the wounds.
The wound areas should be immediately cooled and then cleaned as well as possible before being sealed with the cleanest possible item you have. Food grade plastic wrap works great and can even be found in professional EMS kits, so no fancy bandages are needed if that is all you have.