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Burns

Burns. Aaron J. Katz, AEMT-P, CIC www.es26medic.net. Burn categories. Thermal Chemical Electrical Each with its distinct issues. Thermal burns. Also known as heat burns Caused by flames or heat. Burn classifications. Superficial or First Degree Partial Thickness or Second Degree

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Burns

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  1. Burns Aaron J. Katz, AEMT-P, CIC www.es26medic.net

  2. Burn categories • Thermal • Chemical • Electrical • Each with its distinct issues

  3. Thermal burns • Also known as heat burns • Caused by flames or heat

  4. Burn classifications • Superficial or First Degree • Partial Thickness or Second Degree • Full Thickness or Third Degree

  5. Burn classifications

  6. Superficial burns • Only epidermal layer is involved • Redness • Pain

  7. Superficial burns

  8. Partial Thickness burns • Involves dermal layer as well • Redness and blistering • Extremely painful

  9. Partial Thickness burns

  10. Full Thickness burns • Involves all skin layers and can include bone • Sometimes call “painless burns” • Why? • Charring • “Eschar” • Associated with poor outcomes and permanent disfiguration

  11. Full Thickness burns

  12. Quantifying burns – Rule of Nines • Divide the body into 11 segments of 9% and 1% for the genital area • Does nothing to treat the patient • But allows receiving hospital to get some idea of the severity to expect

  13. Rule of Nines -- Adult • Each of the following body parts get 9% • Head • Chest • Abdomen • Upper back • Lower back/buttocks • Each arm • Front of each leg • Back of each leg • Genital area gets 1%

  14. Rule of Nines -- Child • Body divided as follows: • Head………………………….18% • Chest…………………………..9% • Abdomen……………………..9% • Upper back…………………..9% • Lower back/buttocks……..9% • Each arm………………………9% • Front of each leg……………7% • Back of each leg…………….7% • Genital area gets 1%

  15. Rule of Nines

  16. Question 1 • Your 55 year old patient has been burned on most of his chest, entire right arm and the entire front of his right leg. • Using the Rule of Nines, what percentage of his body has been burned?

  17. Question 2 • Your 5 year old patient has been burned on his entire head, entire right arm and the entire front of his right leg. • Using the Rule of Nines, what percentage of his body has been burned?

  18. Quantifying burns – Palm Rule • The patients palm will cover approximately 1% of their body surface • Use the number of the patient’s palms required to cover the burns as an approximation • Very good for burns covering a small area • Rule of Nines is a better approximation for large areas burned

  19. Burns -- Treatment • As per regional burn centers • No oils or ointments • Stop the burning process • Use saline/water to stop burning PRN • Cover with sterile dressings (burn sheet) • Maintains sterility • Minimizes exposure to air • Minimizes pain! • Keep patient warm • ABCs • Do not break blisters

  20. Critical burns • Second degree > 20% BSA • Burns to critical areas • Having social or functional effects • Face, hands, genitalia… • Check textbook for others

  21. Chemical burns – key items • Scene safety • Gloves, eye protection • Remove substance from patient with copious irrigation with water • Exceptions: • Sodium, lye, sulfuric acid • Water will increase the burning • Treat chemical inhalation with careful attention to airway control

  22. Chemical burns -- Liquids • Flush with copious amounts of H2O • Except as noted above

  23. Chemical burns -- Dry • No Water • Brush off carefully • Sweat on hands may react with chemicals • Be extra careful with lime and sodium

  24. Chemical burns to the eye • Gently flush eye • Affected eye downward • Even during transport • At least 20 minutes • Use whatever works to flush eye • E.g. IV bag, nasal cannula… • Consider calling for ALS

  25. Irrigation

  26. Irrigation

  27. Electrical burns • Scene safety! • From current or lightning (static) • Can cause damage to remote areas as electricity travels through body • Can cause damage anywhere on the route • Always check for an exit wound • Main concern is not the burn itself, rather from the cardiovascular effects

  28. Complications • Smoke inhalation • Airway burns • May quickly swell and occlude airway • Look for • Singed mustache hairs • Swollen lips/tongue • Dire emergency – Rapid transport • Infection • Social effects

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