BURNS

I. INTRODUCTION

Burn injury of the skin is characterized by the damage skin tissue from hot, cold,
electrical, chemical, radiation and even exposure to the sun.

II. WHAT IS BURN?

Burns are one of the most common household injuries, especially among children.
The term “burn” means more than the burning sensation associated with this
injury. Burns are characterized by severe skin damage that causes the affected
skin cells to die.

A burn occurs when heat, chemicals, sunlight, electricity or radiation damages

skin tissue. Most burns happen accidentally. There are different degrees of burns.
Your healthcare provider determines the seriousness (degree) of a burn based on
the depth of the burn and the amount of affected skin. Burns can be painful. Left
untreated, a burn can lead to infection.

Most people can recover from burns without serious health consequences,
depending on the cause and degree of injury. More serious burns require
immediate emergency medical care to prevent complications and death.

III. TYPES OF BURN

Healthcare providers classify burns by degrees of severity. Your provider will

evaluate the extent of skin damage. Burn degrees include:

First-degree burns are mild (like most sunburns). The top layer of skin
(epidermis) turns red and is painful but doesn’t typically blister.

Second-degree burns affect skin’s top and lower layers (dermis). You may
experience pain, redness, swelling and blistering.
 Third-degree burns affect all three skin layers: epidermis, dermis and fat. The
burn also destroys hair follicles and sweat glands. Because third-degree burns
damage nerve endings, you probably won’t feel pain in the area of the burn itself,
rather adjacent to it. Burned skin may be black, white or red with a leathery
appearance.

IV. WHAT CAUSES BURNS

Many things can cause a burn. Below are some examples
 Thermal sources, including fire, hot liquids, steam and contact with hot surfaces,
are the most common causes of burns. Chemicals, such as cement, acids or drain
cleaners.
 Radiation.
 Electricity.
 Sun (ultraviolet or UV light).

V. SIGNS OF BURN
Burn symptoms vary depending on the severity or degree of the burn. Symptoms
are often worse during the first few hours or days after the burn. Burn symptoms
include:
 Blisters.
 Pain.
 Swelling.
 White or charred (black) skin.
 Peeling skin.

VI. HOW ARE BURNS DIAGNOSED

Your healthcare provider will examine the burn to determine the degree or
severity. This process involves estimating the percentage of the body affected by
the burn and its depth. Your provider may classify the burn as:

 Minor: First- and second-degree burns that cover less than 10% of the body are
considered minor and rarely require hospitalization.

 Moderate: Second-degree burns that cover about 10% of the body are classified
as moderate. Burns on the hands, feet, face or genitals can range from moderate to
severe.

 Severe: Third-degree burns that cover more than 1% of the body are considered
severe.

VII. HOW ARE BURNS MANAGE AND TREATED

Burn treatment varies depending on the cause and severity. You need to keep all
burns clean and apply proper bandages/dressing depending on the severity of the
wounds. Treating the person’s pain is key: inadequate control can interfere with
wound care.
 Continue to check wounds for signs of infection and other long term issues, such
as scarring and tightening of the skin over joints and muscles, which makes them
difficult to move.
Treatments by burn type include:

 First-degree burns: Run cool water over the burn. Don’t apply ice. For sunburns,
apply aloe vera gel. For thermal burns, apply antibiotic cream and cover lightly
with gauze. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication.

 Second-degree burns: Treatment for second- and first-degree burns is similar.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe a stronger antibiotic cream that contains
silver, such as silver sulfadiazine, to kill bacteria. Elevating the burned area can
reduce pain and swelling.

 Third-degree burns: Third-degree burns can be life-threatening and often require

skin grafts. Skin grafts replace damaged tissue with healthy skin from another of
the uninjured part of the person’s body. The area where the skin graft is taken
from generally heals on its own. If the person does not have enough skin available
for a graft at the time of injury, a temporary source of graft can come from a
deceased donor or a human-made (artificial) source but these will eventually need
to be replace by the person’s own skin. Treatment also includes extra fluids
(usually given intravenously, with an IV) to keep blood pressure steady and
prevent shock and dehydration.

VIII. COMPLICATIONS
Third-degree burns that are deep and affect a large portion of skin are very serious
and can be life-threatening. Even first- and second-degree burns can become
infected and cause discoloration and scarring. First-degree burns don’t cause
scarring.
Potential complications of third-degree burns include:
 Arrhythmia, or heart rhythm disturbances, caused by an electrical burn.
 Dehydration.
 Disfiguring scars and contractures.
 Edema (excess fluid and swelling in tissues).
 Organ failure.
 Pneumonia.
 Seriously low blood pressure (hypotension) that may lead to shock.
 Severe infection that may lead to amputation or sepsis.

IX. PREVENTIONS

Preventing all degrees of burns

The obvious best way to fight burns is to prevent them from happening. Certain
jobs put you at a greater risk for burns, but the fact is that most burns happen at
 home. Infants and young children are the most vulnerable to burns. Preventive
measures you can take at home include:
 Keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.
 Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
 Place a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
 Test smoke detectors once a month.
 Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.
 Keep water heater temperature under 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
 Measure bath water temperature before use.
 Lock up matches and lighters.
 Install electrical outlet covers.
 Check and discard electrical cords with exposed wires.
 Keep chemicals out of reach, and wear gloves during chemical use.
 Wear sunscreen every day, and avoid peak sunlight.
 Ensure all smoking products are stubbed out completely.
 Clean out dryer lint traps regularly.
 It’s also important to have a fire escape plan and to practice it with your family
once a month. In the event of a fire, make sure to crawl underneath smoke. This
will minimize the risk of passing out and becoming trapped in a fire.