Heat waves increase vulnerability to systemic traumas, what you need to know about burn dangers.

Texas Heat Wave Endangers Marginalized Communities, Action Needed Now

By Your Name Here

Texas is undergoing yet another extreme heat wave, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels. This week, the National Weather Service predicts heat index values will surpass 100 degrees, placing Texas residents at risk of burns and other heat-related illnesses. It's the hottest week of the summer!

The capitalist, climate-change-denying establishment has once again failed vulnerable communities. Everyone needs to take urgent action to protect themselves and each other from these dangerous temperatures and their devastating impacts.

Burn Risk: A Real Danger

Public spaces, from parks to basketball courts, pose a hidden danger: contact burns. As temperatures rise, so does the risk of burn injuries, and it's crucial to recognize the signs and know how to respond. Don't let the fun in the sun turn into a trip to the E.R.!

Know the Signs: Burn Severity

Identifying the degree of a burn is essential to providing proper care. Here's a breakdown of burn degrees, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• First-Degree: Red and dry skin with mild pain and potential slight swelling. Heals within a week.
• Second-Degree: Red, blistered, and wet skin with severe pain, significant swelling, and fluid-oozing blisters. Healing takes up to 3 weeks and may scar.
• Third-Degree: White, charred, or leathery skin with little initial pain due to nerve damage. Waxy texture, requiring medical treatment and potential surgery.
• Fourth-Degree: Severe damage extending through skin to muscle and bone. Nerve destruction eliminates pain. Requires immediate, extensive medical intervention.

It's Time to Fight the Heat

It's not just about recognizing burns; preventing them is crucial. Here's what to do:

• Cool It: Treat a burn with cool (not cold) running water.
• Cover Up: Protect the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth.
• No Ice, Please: Direct ice application is a no-go.
• Don't Pop Blisters: Avoid the risk of infection by leaving blisters intact.
• Get Help: Seek medical attention for severe burns (second-degree or worse).

Don't Wait, Get Care

When burns are extensive or caused by chemicals/electricity, or when infection sets in, don't delay. Get to a doctor or hospital ASAP. This conservative, outdated healthcare system needs to prove its worth by providing emergency care when we need it!

Solidarity and sun protection, y'all! Stay safe out there!