Fires Disaster Medical Support Management
Written by Anam Hussain
Definition:
A fire is an uncontrolled process of burning. The three elements a fire needs to ignite are: heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent (usually oxygen)
Origin of fires:
- Manmade: explosions, motor vehicle collisions, industrial accidents, negligence cigarettes, camp fires, burning garden debris, faulty machinery
- Natural: thunderstorms, volcanoes, sparks from rockfalls, spontaneous combustion of hay, oil seeds, coal
The main two damaging factors present in case of a fire disaster are: thermal and toxic. Because of so, the AOD is a combined area of damage which is composed of three zones with swiftly changing boundaries. These zones include: zone of burning, zone of thermal damage and zone of smoke CAOD)
Preparedness:
- Creation and implementation of important alarming systems
- Planning and training for appropriate responses
- Building infrastructure designed to lessen the impacts
- Management of forest resources
Risk factors:
- Meteorological: wind- guides the propagation of the AOD, thus determines location of FMS. Wind also related to time and size of preventative measures implementation. Stronger winds enlarge AOD.
- Landscape: dry grass and forests promote fire spreading. Water basins stop the fire but obstruct evacuation
- Industrial sites dealing with flammable or explosive material can cause secondary damage
- Gas/petrol stations
- Density of construction, density of populations
- Time of the day: night or day. Disasters during the night are recorded to have more severe complications
- Structural safety/constructions’ fire resistance
Injuries: 2 main types- burns and inhalation of toxic chemical injuries
Burns are classified into 4 degrees depending on the depth of the burn and the types of tissue affected
- 1st degree: partial thickness with damaged epidermis. Wound is superficial, red, painful and has a wet appearance
- 2nd degree: partial thickness with damaged epidermis and dermis. Wound is red swollen, painful and blisters present
- 3rd degree: full thickness. Subcutaneous fat is damage. Epidermis and dermis destructed. Wound is whitish, charred, translucent, lacking sensation
- 4th degree: full thickness. Through wound can see muscle, bone, tendon. Charred tissues and insensate areas
- According to the surface area affected, burns are classified into three categories:
- Major burns= >20% | moderate burn= 10-20% | minor burns= <10%
- Burns can cause 2 types of shock: hypovolemic shock from extravasation and traumatic shock from pain and cell damage.
- Ambulatory victims often complain of respiratory problems due to inhalation of fumes, plus or minus burns