Burns (heat/cold)

Question 1

Burns-Introduction (2)

Answer 1

-Burns are dynamic. They can start off in a concentrated area and deteriorate to affect many systems.

• Criterions to evaluate burns:
  1) Depth (degree)
  2) Area (percentage)
  3) Critical Parts

Question 2

Burns-Degrees

• Layer
• Description (3)

Answer 2

1st degree:

• Epidermal
• Red, dry and sensitive

2nd degree:

• Epidermal and Dermal
• Red, moist (blistering) and painful

3rd degree:

• Subcutaneous
• Red/white (rubbery), dry scabby, painful/lack of pain

Question 3

Burns-Area

• head and neck (varies)
• arms
• back and front
• legs (varies)
• private part

Answer 3

There are 2 methods to measure area:

1) 9% method
2) palm method (respective)
* when in doubt use palm scale.

9% method:

• head and neck 9%
• arms (back and front) 18% (9x2)
• chest and stomach 18%
• back and bottom 18%
• legs (back and front) 36% (18x2)
• private part 1%

Child/Baby

• head and neck 18%
• arms (back and front) 18%
• chest and stomach 18%
• back 18%
• legs (back and front) 14%
• private part 1%

Question 4

Burns-Critical

Parts (5)
Area (2)
Other (3)

Answer 4

Parts:

• Face
• Hands and feet (feel, walk)
• Chest (breathing)
• Private part
• Circumferential (natural tourniquet)

Area:
30%-2nd degree
10%-3rd degree

Other:

• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns
• Internal burns

Question 5

Burns-Treatment (6)

Answer 5

1) ABC according to PHTLS scheme
2) Call ICU (if necessary)
3) Oxygen
4) Rinse burn with water:
- warm (cold water can cause hypothermia and vasoconstriction)
- clean (saline if possible)
- running
5) Remove clothes and jewellery (if haven’t stuck to body)
6) I.V (tell patient to drink as well if possible-even in minor burn)

Question 6

Frostbite-Introduction (3)

Answer 6

• Frostbite is not a sign of hypothermia.
• Occurs when skin comes in to contact with cold materials and reaches freezing point (snow, liquid nitrogen etc)
• Usually on extremities, head and face

Question 7

Frostbite-Types and Signs

Types (2)
Signs (3)

Answer 7

Types:

1) Surface (Epi/dermis)
2) Deep (Subcutis/Muscle fibres)

Signs:

• Cold, tingling pain
• Red/white/grey
• could be signs of hypothermia (if cold has spread)

Question 8

Frostbite-Treatment (3)

Answer 8

1) Warm up patient
2) Insulate/ Defrost burn
3) Massage burn (unless long term-acidosis)