Electrical Severity of burns is a function of intensity of burning agent and duration of exposure. Steam has about 4000 times the burning energy than does air. This is due to the heat of vaporization of water from liquid to gas phase. The type of burn depends on the kind of acid and the length of time and amount of tissue exposed. Emergency treatment includes washing the area with large amounts of water.
Treatment includes flushing with water to wash off the chemical.
Then vinegar or another mildly acidic substance mixed with water is put on the burn to make neutral any alkali that is left and to lessen the pain. The patient should be taken right away to a hospital or other treatment center if the damage is severe. The size of the area of the body affected by a burn or scald plays a large part in determining whether it is classified as a major or minor injury. Burns affecting 10 percent of a small child's body and those affecting 15 to 20 percent of a human adult's body are major injuries and require emergency treatment and hospitalization, often for long periods of time. First Degree A burn that causes reddening of the skin but no blistering is a first-degree burn.