Good reflexes to adopt. Burns, bites: what to do?

Newly arrived from the Nancy University Hospital, ^Professor Franck Duteille has been practicing at the Nantes University Hospital Burn Center. This hand surgeon, specializing in reconstruction, joined the team at the Emile-Gallé Center in April. Burns, lacerations, and even bites hold no secrets for him. What should you do in the event of an accident? And what not to do? Answers.

Hand burns from lighting a barbecue, although common, can be extremely serious in the summer. Illustrative photo by Elodie Niclass — Hand burns from lighting a barbecue, although common, can be extremely serious in the summer. Illustration photo by Elodie Niclass

The most common burns you face?

"For children, it's domestic accidents: a hot bath, a spilled bowl of coffee, stoves and fireplaces, barbecues... The most exposed areas are the hands and face. This is generally where we have the deepest burns, with aesthetic and functional after-effects that sometimes lead to amputations and functional limitations. These injuries require long-term care, with patients sometimes requiring reoperation or treatment... We find ourselves in the world of burn victims. We consider that once you're burned, you're burned for life. Often, patients retain a memory of the pain for a long time. And then, the aesthetic after-effects are extremely significant."