Burns 1305 Flashcards
What are the four ways burns can occur?
Thermal
Chemical
Electrical
Radiation
Between the epidermis and the dermis, which is thicker?
Dermis
What is best described as a burn only affecting the epidermis?
First-degree burn
What kind of burn is a sunburn?
Radiation, often only first degree
As per Jackson’s Burn Model, which area described has the BEST perfusion?
Zone of Hyperemia
As per Jackson’s Burn Model, which area described is irreversibly damaged?
Zone of Coagulation
(band name??)
As per Jackson’s Burn Model, which area described has dangerously low perfusion?
Zone of Stasis
Of all three zones in Jackson’s Burn Model, which one is of the most concern in relation to treatment?
The zone of Stasis as it is most at risk of becoming poorly perfused, leading to SECONDARY necrosis
What are the characteristics of a first-degree burn?
Red, Painful, DRY
Will heal without scarring
Only affecting the epidermis
What are the characteristics of a second-degree burn?
Red, Painful, WET, BLISTERS
Will most likely heal without scarring
Affects epidermis and some dermis
What are the characteristics of a third-degree burn?
Yellow/White, only painful peripherally, DRY
Will not heal without scarring
Affects epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat
What is eschar tissue?
Tissues denatured by third-degree burns, becoming leathery and dry
What are the characteristics of a fourth-degree burn?
Burns affecting tendons, ligaments and bone.
Gross charring aside, what is the pathophysiology of burn-related death?
Systemic hypotension following massive increase in capillary permeability
What kind of shock would you expect a burn patient to go into?
Hypovolemic shock secondary to massive fluid loss
What is the reasoning for capillary permeability sharply increasing secondary to a burn?
Two reasons:
Histamine release secondary to injury (normal reaction)
Loss of vascular regulation following damage to tissues
Once a burn is properly cared for, what remains an ongoing concern in treatment?
Infection is highly common in burns
Flames, scalding and flash are all examples of which kind of burn?
Thermal
Between acids and bases, which chemicals will typically cause worse burns?
Bases
Why is decontamination important in cases of chemical burns?
Often, chemical burns will continue to progress in severity until the chemical is cleaned off.
This also poses a safety issue to responders/receiving facilities
What documentation should be sought in cases of chemical burns?
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
They will tell you what the chemical is, what hazards it poses and how to deal with it
(yay, health and safety reps)
True or false:
Electrical burns will follow the route that the electricity flowed through the body
True
(pretty metal, yo)
Why is ECG monitoring important in electrocution patients?
Cardiac arrhythmias due to impromptu cardioversion
What is tetany?
Involuntary muscle contraction
According to the PP, what is considered high voltage?
> 500V
What is the common patho of a lightning strike arrest?
Strike causes widespread cellular depolarization, the myocardium is quick to recover but the respiratory center is not, leading to lethal hypoxia
What is unique about lightning strike MCI management?
VSAs should be prioritized
This is known as “reverse triage”
True or false:
Radiation burns can be distinguished from thermal burns in a prehospital setting
False
What are circumferential burns?
Large portions of burned tissue wrapping around a part of the body leading to compression due to eschar tissue
