Burns (1st, 2nd, & 3rd degree)
What are burns?
Burn types: 3rd
Burn types: 2nd degree
- A burn is an injury typically caused by exposure to heat or chemicals.
Treatment:
Full thickness:
- can be red or white in appearance but will appear dry.
- Involves the destruction of the entire epidermis and most of the dermis
- Sensation can be present, but diminished
- Blanching is sluggish or absent
- Full thickness will most likely need excision & skin grafting to heal
- All layers of the skin is destroyed
- Extend into the subcutaneous tissues
- Areas can appear, black or white and will be dry
- Can appear leathery in texture
- Will not blanch when pressure is applied
- No pain
Skin Graft:
- Skin grafting is a type of medical grafting involving the transplantation of skin.
- Burns usually occur when the epidermis comes in contact with heat, electricity, corrosive chemicals, or radiation (UV rays from the sun or tanning beds, or radiation treatments.
- Can be classified as partial or full thickness.
- Partial thickness
- Blisters can be present
- Involve the entire epidermis and upper layers of the dermis
- Wound will be pink, red in color, painful and wet appearing
- Wound will blanch when pressure is applied
- Should heal in several weeks (10-21 days) without grafting, scarring is usually minimal
- skin grafting can reduce the course of treatment needed & time spent in the hospital. It can also improve the function and appearance of the area of the body which receives the skin graft.
Treatment: 3rd degree
Rule of nines:
Sources:
Treatment: 2nd degree
For major burns, call 911 or emergency medical help. Until an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:
- Don't remove burned clothing. However, do make sure the victim is no longer in contact with smoldering materials or exposed to smoke or heat.
- Don't immerse large severe burns in cold water. Doing so could cause a drop in body temperature (hypothermia) and deterioration of blood pressure and circulation (shock)
- Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement). If there is no breathing or other sign of circulation, begin CPR.
- Elevate the burned body part or parts. Raise above heart level, when possible.
Cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist, sterile bandage; clean, moist cloth; or moist cloth towels.
If the second-degree burn is no larger than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, treat it as a minor burn. If the burned area is larger or if the burn is on the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or over a major joint, treat it as a major burn and get medical help immediately.
1st source: http://tinyurl.com/ppfxxdo
2nd source: http://tinyurl.com/n5ut5vb
3rd source: http://tinyurl.com/ljdt8tr
4th source: http://tinyurl.com/mmaxrc9
The "Rule of Nines" chart can be used to determine the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) that has been burnt. The chart divides the body into sections that represent 9 percent of the body surface area.
Treatment: 1st degree
Burn types: 1st degree
Burn classification:
- Includes only the outer layer of skin, the epidermis.
- Skin is usually red and very painful
- Equivalent to superficial sunburn without blisters
- Dry in appearance
- Healing occurs in 3-5 days, injured epithelium peels away from the healthy skin
- Hospitalization is for pain control and maybe fluid imbalance
For minor burns, including first-degree burns and second-degree burns limited to an area no larger than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, take the following action:
- Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with cold compresses. 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, or other material that may get lint in the wound. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the burn, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 2, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.
- Treat a first-degree burn as a minor burn unless it involves substantial portions of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint, which requires emergency medical attention.