Dehydration, sunburn and burn wounds

You reach camp and two members of the party decide to climb a koppie for that perfect photo opportunity. Several hours later as the sun is setting, they return. They had neglected to take water and adequate sun protection, and in desperation drank from a small not-so-flowing stream. The walk back included many unscheduled toilet stops with both vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea. Both are severely sunburnt and by nightfall they’re badly dehydrated, cramping up and flushed.

Best response

With dehydration, prevention is better than cure, says Lourens. Once you develop symptoms like nausea, cramps and headaches, fluid replacement will take hours to correct. “Not only do you lose water, but electrolytes too – salts, sugars and minerals which are essential to bodily functions,” he adds. Monitor urine output and if the person hasn’t passed for a few hours, the warning lights should flicker. Also check urine colour: The lighter, the better. When it comes to sunburn – and this may sound like stating the obvious – it’s remarkable how many people venture into the blazing sun without hats. Don’t be those people. “Covering your skin and wearing a hat slows the evaporation of moisture off your body, so

simply dressing in appropriate clothing goes a long way in avoiding sunburn, sun stroke and ultimately dehydration,” ensures Lourens. But what about serious burns, such as those from an open fire or engine?

Dr Malan says it’s firstly important to get away from the source, then do the following:

1 Cool the wound under (clean) running water and remove obvious soiling.

2 Apply a Burnshield dressing and wrap the wound in sterile gauze. Clingwrap also keeps an open wound clean and protected.

3 After about 10-12 hours, start to apply Flamazine and keep the wound wrapped in soft bandages.