Chapter 9: Burns

Types of Burns:

Thermal burns: caused by flames, contact with hot objects, flammable vapor that ignite and causes a flash or an explosion, steam, or hot liquid

Chemical burns: Can cause tissue damage and death if they come in contact with the skin. Three types of chemicals, acids, alkalis, and organic compounds are the most common chemical burns

Electrical burns: The severity of the injury from electric current depends on the type of current (direct or alternating), the voltage, the area of the body exposed, and the duration of contact.

Depth of Burns:

First-degree(superficial):Affect the skin’s outer layer

Characteristics include redness, mild swelling, tenderness and pain

Second-degree (partial-thickness) burns: Extend though the skin’s entire outer layer and into the inner layer

Blisters, swelling, weeping of fluids

Third-degree (full thickness) burns:Severe burns that penetrate all the skin layers and the underlying fat and muscle

The skin looks leathery, waxy, or pearly gray, sometimes charred

The victim feels no pain from a third degree burn because the nerve endings have been damaged or destroyed

Extent of Burns:Determine the severity of the burn

Rule of the Hand: The victim’s entire hand represents about 1% of his or her total body surface area (BSA)

Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals are more severe than on other body parts

Care of Thermal Burns:

  • First-Degree Burns:

Cool the burn with cold water until the part is pain free (at least 10 minutes)

After the burn cools, apply an Aloe Vera gel or skin moisturizer to keep skin moistened and reduce itching and peeling

Give ibuprofen to relieve pain and inflammation. Give acetaminophen to children

  • Second Degree Burns:

Remove clothing and jewelry from the burned area

Cool the burn with cold water until the part is pain free

After the burn has been cooled, apply antibiotic ointment

Cover the burn loosely with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing to keep the clean

Give ibuprofen to relieve pain and inflammation. Give acetaminophen for children

  • Large Second Degree and All Third Degree Burns

Monitor breathing

Remove clothing and jewelry that is not stuck to the burned area

Cover the burn with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing

Care for shock

Seek medical care

Chemical Burns: a chemical burn results when a caustic or corrosive substance touches the skin

Remove as fast as possible

Care for Chemical Burns:

Immediately flush the area with a large quantity of water for 20 minutes, if the chemical is a dry powder brush the powder from skin before flushing

Remove the victims contaminated clothing and jewelry while flushing with water

Cover the affected area with a dry, sterile or clean dressing

Seek medical care

Electrical Burns:

Thermal (flame): clothing or objects in contact with the skin are ignited by an electric current

Arc burn (flash): when electricity jumps from one spot to another

True electrical injury (contact): when an electric current passes directly through the body, which can disrupt the normal heart rhythm and cause cardiac arrest and burns

Care for Electrical Burns:

Make sure the area is safe, unplug, disconnect, or turn of the power, if that is possible call 9-1-1

Monitor breathing

If the victim fell, check for a possible spinal injury

Care for shock

Call 9-1-1 for medical care

Chapter 9: Burns

Types of Burns:

Thermal burns: ______

Chemical burns: Can cause tissue damage and death if they come in contact with the skin. Three types of chemicals, acids, alkalis, and organic compounds are the most common chemical burns

Electrical burns: The severity of the injury from electric current depends on the type of current (direct or alternating), the voltage, the area of the body exposed, and the duration of contact.

Depth of Burns:

First degree(superficial): ______

______

Second-degree (partial-thickness) burns: Extend though the skin’s entire outer layer and into the inner layer

Blisters, swelling, weeping of fluids

Third-degree (full thickness) burns: ______

The skin looks leathery, waxy, or pearly gray, sometimes charred

The victim feels no pain from a third degree burn because the nerve endings have been damaged or destroyed

Extent of Burns: Determine the severity of the burn

______The victim’s entire hand represents about 1% of his or her total body surface area (BSA)

Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals are more severe than on other body parts

Care of Thermal Burns:

  • First-Degree Burns:

Cool the burn with cold water until the part is pain free (at least 10 minutes)

After the burn cools, apply an Aloe Vera gel or skin moisturizer to keep skin moistened and reduce itching and peeling

______

  • Second Degree Burns:

Remove clothing and jewelry from the burned area

______

After the burn has been cooled, apply antibiotic ointment

Cover the burn loosely with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing to keep the clean

Give ibuprofen to relieve pain and inflammation. Give acetaminophen for children

  • Large Second Degree and All Third Degree Burns

______

Remove clothing and jewelry that is not stuck to the burned area

Cover the burn with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing

______

Seek medical care

Chemical Burns: a chemical burn results when a caustic or corrosive substance touches the skin

Remove as fast as possible

Care for Chemical Burns:

______

______

Remove the victims contaminated clothing and jewelry while flushing with water

Cover the affected area with a dry, sterile or clean dressing

Seek medical care

Electrical Burns:

Thermal (flame): ______

Arc burn (flash): when electricity jumps from one spot to another

______when an electric current passes directly through the body, which can disrupt the normal heart rhythm and cause cardiac arrest and burns

Care for Electrical Burns:

Make sure the area is safe, unplug, disconnect, or turn of the power, if that is possible call 9-1-1

______

If the victim fell, check for a possible spinal injury

Care for shock

______