Burns

Burns can be caused by flame, UV

radiation, hot liquids, electricity,
lightning and certain chemicals.
Major burns are a medical
emergency and require urgent
medical attention.
Types of Burns
Minor
Major
 Area of Burns

• The definition of a major burn is injury to

more than 20 per cent of the total body surface area
for an adult. (In general, one arm is considered nine
per cent, and one leg as 18 per cent.)

• For children, a major burn is defined as injury

to 10 per cent or more of their total body surface
area.
 Minor Burns
 First-degree burn
Outer layer of skin
 Red
 Swelling
 Pain

 Superficial - these burns cause damage to the first or top

layer of skin. The burn site will be red and painful.
Minor Burns
Second-degree burn
First and Second Layer
Blisters
Severe pain
Swelling
If the second-degree
burn is no larger than 2 to 3 inches
in diameter, treat it as a minor burn.
 Partial thickness - includes
damage to the first and second
skin layers. The burn site will be
red, peeling, blistering and
swelling with clear or yellow-
colored fluid leaking from the
skin. The burn site is very
painful.
Minor Burns
For minor burns,
Including second-degree burns limited
to an area no rather than 2 to 3 inches in diameter,
take the following action:
Cool the burn.
 Hold the burned area under cold running water for
at least 5 minutes, or until the pain subsides.
 Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting
heat away from the skin. Don't put ice on the burn.
Cover the burn with a sterile gauze
bandage.
 Don't use fluffy cotton, which may irritate
the skin.
 Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting
pressure on burned skin.
 Bandaging keeps air off the burned skin,
reduces pain and protects blistered skin.
Minor Burns
Caution
Don't use ice.
 Putting ice directly on a burn can cause
frostbite, further damaging your skin.
Don't break blisters.
Broken blisters are vulnerable to infection.
 Major Burns
Third-degree burn
The most serious burns are painless
and involve all layers of the skin.
 Fat, muscle and even bone may be affected.
 Areas may be charred blacker appear dry and
white.
 Difficulty inhaling and exhaling, carbon monoxide
poisoning or other toxic effects may occur if smoke
inhalation accompanies the burn.
Major Burn
Full thickness
 damage to both skin layers, plus the underlying tissues, muscle,
bone and organs.
 The burn site generally appears black or charred with white
exposed fatty tissue or bone.
 Yellow in the wound is likely to be exposed muscle tissue.
 The nerve endings are generally destroyed and, therefore,
there is little or no pain experienced at the site of the full
thickness burn.
 However, surrounding partial thickness burns will be very
painful.
Sign Symptoms
 Injury to lungs - in the case of respiratory burns. Symptoms
can include
 breathing difficulties
 whistling sounds when breathing (strider).
 Hypovolaemia –
 loss of plasma (blood) from injured blood vessels, which
causes abnormally low blood pressure.
 Heat loss (hypothermia) - since burnt skin is unable to
properly regulate body temperature.
 Cardiac arrhythmia - irregular heart beat.
 Kidney failure.
 Death.
First Aid
 For major burns
 Quick medical Help
 Don't remove burnt clothing.
 Don't immerse severe large burns in cold water. Doing so
could cause shock.
 Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or
movement).
 If there is no breathing or other sign of circulation, begin
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
 Cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist, sterile
bandage; clean, moist cloth; or moist towels.
Electrical burns
An electrical burn may appear minor or
not show on the skin at all, but the damage can
extend deep into the tissues beneath your skin.
If a strong electrical current passes through your body,
 internal damage,
 such as a heart rhythm disturbance or cardiac arrest, can occur.
 Sometimes the jolt associated with the electrical burn can
cause you to be thrown or to fall, resulting in fractures or other
associated injuries.
First Aid
 Look first. Don't touch.
The person may still be in contact with the electrical
source. Touching the person may pass the current through
you.
 Turn off the source of electricity if possible.
If not, move the source away from both you and the
injured person using a nonconducting object made of
cardboard, plastic or wood.
 Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or
movement).
If absent, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
immediately.
First Aid
 Prevent shock.
Lay the person down with the head slightly
lower than the trunk and the legs elevated.
 Cover the affected areas.
If the person is breathing, cover any burned
areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a
clean cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel. Loose fibers
can stick to the burns.
Chemical burns
 Remove the cause of the burn
 by flushing the chemicals off the skin surface with cool, running
water for 15 minutes or more.
 If the burning chemical is a powder-like substance such as lime,
brush it off the skin before flushing.
 Remove clothing or jewelry that has been contaminated by
the chemical.
 Wrap the burned area loosely with a dry, sterile dressing or a
clean cloth.
 Minor chemical burns usually heal without further treatment.