Burns Flashcards
3 layers of skin
- epidermis (outermost)
- dermis
- SQ tissues/fat pads
epidermis
- thin
- body vs. environment
dermis
- hair follicles
- sweat/oil glands
- sensory nerves
- capillaries
functions of your skin
- immunologic defense
- barrier
- thermoregulation
- neurosensory
Causes of Burns
- inhalation
- thermal
- electrical
- chemical
- radiation
- cold thermal
Prevalence of burns
birth to 2: scald, contact burns
5 to 20: thermal burns
20 percent pediatric burns r/t abuse or neglect
inhalation
- results from hot air, noxious chemicals
- major predictor of mortality
- requires quick treatment
inhalation injury types
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- inhalation injury above the glottis
- inhalation injury below the glottis
Carbon monoxide Poisoning
- incomplete combustion of burning materials
- CO displaces O2
- skin has “cherry red” appearance
Tx of CO Poisoning
- 100% humidified O2
- hyperbaric oxygen therapy
CO displaces O2 causes…
- hypoxia
- carboxyhemoglobinemia
- death
Inhalation injury above the glottis
- steam inhalation
- aspiration of scalding liquid
- hot smoke/air
- mucosal burns on oropharynx and larynx
- causes mechanical obstruction
- medical emergency
Tx for injury above the glottis
- ABGs
- O2
- Intubation (Stridor)
Inhalation clues
- facial/neck burns
- singed nasal hair, beard, eyelashes, eye brows
- hoarseness, painful swallowing
- darkened oral/nasal membranes
- hyper-secretions
- respirations distress
Injury below the glottis
- usually chemical injury
- pulmonary edema may be instant or 12-24 hours later
Tx for injury below the glottis
-intubation
Pulmonary edema causes
- impaired cililary action
- hypersecreation
- edema
- ulceration of mucous membranes
- spasm of bronchi and bronchioles
Thermal burns
- most common type of burn
- caused by flame, scald, sun/radiation, hot objects
150 degree water…
1/2 second to get 3rd degree burn
Hot water accounts for..
24 percent of all scalds in children
US water burns..
65 percent of all children under 4 is from hot tap water
1 million/year…
in US suffer from thermal burns
45,000 are…
admitted to the hospital
must eval for…
s/s of abuse
Initial tx for small burns
-cover with clean cloth, cool, tap water
initial tx for large burns
- ABCs
- do NOT immerse in cold water or ice pack
- wrap in clean, dry sheet or blanket
- remove burned clothing unless adhered to site
Electrical burns
- result of coagulation necrosis
- direct damage
- severity varies
- entry/exit points
- passes thru vital organs
- sparks
- inability to assess damage
electrical burns are high risk for…
- dysrhythmias
- metabolic acidosis
- myoglobinuria
Initial tx for electrical burns
- assure source is shut off
- remove the patient from source
- rescuer must be protected
Chemical burns
- destruction: acids, alkalis, organic compounds
- severity: agent, concentration, volume, duration of contact
- destroys tissue proteins and leads to necrosis
Chemical burns result in…
- skin
- eyes
- resp system
- liver and kidney damage
With chemical burns, alkali’s..
- cause deeper penetration
- cause protein hydrolysis and liquefication
- damage continues
Destruction of tissue proteins leads to…
necrosis
Tx for chemical burns
- remove quickly from the skin
- remove saturated clothing
- brushing from skin in a powder
- irrigating with copious water
- burning process and tissue injury can last 72 hours
Cold Thermal
-varies from frostbite to systemic hypothermia
1ST degree frostbite
white/yellow firm plaque
-accompanying pain