Page 5 - June 2021 BSTTW Community News

5 BSTTW COMMUNITY NEWS

Continued From Page 4 “Almost Died” How to tell what percent was burned: In older
“I was born again,” he said, “And that’s why I children and adults, each arm is about 9
decided to celebrate that day. I always will.” percent and each leg 18 percent, the chest and
He visits multiple medical specialists and back are 18 percent each, and the head and
attends physical therapy several times a week. neck are 9 percent each. Also see Burn Percent
He has a prosthesis on his hands for his
fingers. In September, Hernández was able to Depth (Degree) of the burn. See Burn Degrees
tie his shoes again, which he called “another
test passed.” How the burn occurred can also influence the
treatment your child receives.
“His positivism, his faith in God, is moving,” said
Idalysa Morales, a physical therapist who has WHEN TO CALL YOUR CHILD'S DOCTOR
been working with Hernández since September
2019. “I feel that I am working with a miracle of Call immediately if:
God.”
Second-degree burns cover more than 5
Since they began working together, his percent of the body surface.
improvement has been “significant,” she said.
He can sit straight up without tumbling Any third-degree burns are present.
backward and has become more independent Burns of the hands, face, eyes, ears, feet or
at home. He can walk farther distances and has genital area.
better balance and coordination. Sometimes the
grief over his debt can affect his concentration. Burns result from a fire in a closed space.
Shortness of breath or rapid breathing.
One day, the former medical student hopes to
return to school and study medicine again. Any electrical Burns.
“I can now see the pain that patients feel, the
problems they face every day, being in a bed, Burns caused from either acids or caustics.
being dependent on others,” he said. “That or any Other medical problems exist.
gives me more tools to be a better doctor.”
Call within a few hours if:
Syra Ortiz-Blanes is a Puerto Rican journalist who covers
Puerto Rico and Latin America for El Nuevo Herald and Miami
Herald through Report for America. She graduated with a Second-degree burns cover less than 5 percent
master’s degree from the Columbia Journalism School in May of the body surface First-degree burns cover
2020. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The
Philadelphia Inquirer and others. more than 5 percent of the body surface
Increasingly painful burns, with tenderness,
How To Help Others Who Suffer Burn Injury redness or draining pus develops Tetanus
immunization needs updating.
Burns can result from electrical contact, hot
objects, hot water and other liquids, fires, WHAT YOU CAN DO
chemicals and sunburn. Things to consider for
burns include the total amount of skin burned, Remove clothing and apply cool water over the
depth (degree) and location of the burn and burn area using clean towels or cloths to reduce
how the burn occurred.

Note: The larger the burn, the more severe.
You should see your doctor if there are burns
over 5 percent of the body. Burns over more
than 10 percent of their body often require
hospitalization.
Continued On Page 6 “Almost Died”