Chemical Burns
Ensure scene safety and identify the agent before touching the patient. Remove contaminated clothing and brush off dry powders before irrigating with copious amounts of water. Irrigate for at least 20 minutes, and longer for alkali burns, which penetrate deeper than acids.
Electrical Burns
Confirm that the power source is off before approaching. Entrance and exit wounds can look small, while deep tissue and muscle damage may be extensive. Current can cause cardiac arrhythmias, so monitor the ECG and be ready to defibrillate.
Complications
Rhabdomyolysis from muscle breakdown can lead to kidney failure, so fluid resuscitation matters. Check for fractures, since strong muscle contractions can break bones. Transport all electrical injury patients for evaluation, even if they appear well.