37.37. A casualty has blisters on the skin as a result of a thermal burn. What actions are correct?
UAУ постраждалого внаслідок термічного опіку на шкірі утворилися пухирі. Які дії будуть правильними?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety in terms of the driver's actions after a traffic accident when there are injured persons and first aid is required. On the road, burns can occur due to fire, contact with hot parts or liquids, and the correct initial steps affect the risk of complications and the speed of recovery. For the theoretical exam, it is important to understand that first aid is not 'treatment', but competent basic actions before the arrival of medical professionals.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the traffic rules regarding the driver's duties in the event of a traffic accident (in particular, the requirements of clause 2.10 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: to take possible measures to provide first aid and call an ambulance). In the case of a thermal burn with blisters, the priority is to stop the effect of high temperature by cooling the affected area and protecting it from infection with a sterile dry dressing without pressure, without injuring the blisters.
The correct option involves cooling and applying a clean sterile dry gauze without compression, because blisters are a natural barrier, and damaging them increases the risk of infection and worsens healing. On the other hand, the advice to puncture blisters is incorrect: such actions create an open wound, increase the likelihood of introducing microbes, and can cause complications, which contradicts the logic of first aid that the driver must demonstrate during the traffic rules exam.
Clause 1.10 (the term “Road Traffic Accident”)
Road traffic accident — an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle, as a result of which people were killed or injured, or material damage was caused.
Brief explanation of application: the question belongs to the block of actions of the driver/road user in the presence of victims as a result of a road traffic accident, where there is an obligation to provide first aid.
Clause 2.10 (driver’s duties in case of involvement in a road traffic accident)
In case of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged, in particular: to take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims, to call (notify) emergency medical services; if it is impossible to do so — to seek help from those present and send the victim to a medical facility by passing vehicle, and if this is not possible — to transport him/her in his/her own vehicle to the nearest medical facility, providing his/her surname, vehicle registration number (with presentation of an identity document or driver’s license) and return to the scene of the accident.
Brief explanation of application: this exam question checks compliance with the traffic rule requirement “to take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims”; correct actions in case of a thermal burn with blisters (cooling the affected area, applying a clean sterile dry dressing without pressure, without damaging the blisters) are an example of such first aid before the arrival of medical professionals.
Thus, the correct answer is: “Without damaging the blisters, cool the burn site and apply a clean, sterile, dry gauze dressing that does not put pressure on the soft tissues.” This is based on the definition in the Traffic Rules that in case of a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged to take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims and ensure the calling (notification) of emergency medical services/delivery of the victim to a medical facility if necessary.
If blisters appear on the skin after a thermal burn, this means that the damage is deeper than simple redness, and the surface of the skin has already lost part of its protective properties. In such a situation, the main goal of first aid on the road is to reduce the effect of high temperature on the tissues and prevent wound infection.
First of all, the affected area should be cooled. This should be done immediately after the injury to stop the "heating" of the tissues, reduce pain, and limit further spread of the damage. In practice, this can be cooling with cool water or applying something cold for a short period of time, if possible.
Blisters from burns must not be punctured, cut, or rubbed. They serve as a natural barrier that partially protects the damaged surface from microbes. If they are damaged, the risk of infection and complications increases significantly, and healing is delayed.
After cooling, the burn should be covered with a clean, sterile, dry gauze bandage. It is important that the bandage lies loosely and does not compress the soft tissues, as pressure can injure the blisters, increase pain, and worsen the condition of the affected area.
Therefore, the correct answer is: "Without damaging the blisters, cool the burn site and apply a clean, sterile, dry gauze bandage that does not press on the soft tissues," because the correct actions for burns with blisters are rapid cooling and protection of the damaged surface without injuring the blisters and without risk of infection.