Burns w/ chemical hand or foot warmers

Question 1

What are the components of disposable chemical hand or foot warmers?

Answer 1

Iron, activated carbon, salt and vermiculite

Question 2

How do these warmers produce heat?

Answer 2

Iron gets exposed to oxygen –> iron oxidizes –> heat

Question 3

What does salt do in the warmers?

Answer 3

Helps catalyze iron oxidation

Question 4

What does activated charcoal do?

Answer 4

Helps disperse the heat

Question 5

What does vermiculite do?

Answer 5

Helps insulate the heat

Question 6

What temps can be achieved with these warmers?

Answer 6

As high as 165 F if exposed to an oxygen rich environment (e.g. shoes with ventilator holes)

Question 7

What are the precautions when using warmers to prevent burns?

Answer 7

Avoid exposure to free flowing air, avoid applying it directly to bare skin, avoid using it in shoes for vigorous activity (running)

Question 8

Who should be supervised when using warmers?

Answer 8

Children and the elderly, who may have relatively thin skin and may not apply them properly

Question 9

What are hand and foot warmers?

Answer 9

Useful tools for protecting hands and feet from cold injury and are generally considered safe

Question 10

How are burns classified?

Answer 10

Superficial (1st degree), partial thickness (2nd degree) and full thickness (3rd degree). Also can be classified as minor, moderate and severe

Question 11

Criteria for minor burn in a pediatric Pt

Answer 11

1st-2nd degree < 5% total body surface area (TBSA) in Pt <10 y, isolated injury, not involving face, hands, perineum or feet, not circumferential, not crossing a major joint line