Burn Prevention
and
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy
• Occupational therapy helps people
achieve independence by assisting
with the physical and emotional
skills they need for work, play,
self-care, travel, learning, and even
relaxation.
Occupational Therapy
• An occupational therapist's work includes
helping patients develop daily living,
leisure, and work skills; administering
tests; and evaluating patients’ progress,
all in tandem with other members of
professional health care teams. OTs must
have expertise in human anatomy and
physiology, and natural, physical, and
behavioral sciences.
Who Benefits From
Occupational Therapy?
• Wellness programs
• Age-related illness
• Neurological
•
•
•
•
•
dysfunction
Cardiac dysfunction
Work-related injuries
Arthritis
Multiple sclerosis
Serious chronic
conditions
• Mental illness
• Substance abuse or eating
•
•
•
•
•
•
disorders
Burns
Spinal cord injuries
Amputations
Sports injuries
Vision impairments
Cognitive impairment
The Occupational Therapy Program
• Combined BS/MS option offers opportunity
to students at all educational levels
• Prerequisite coursework
• The following courses were required as
prerequisites for admission into the NYIT
Occupational Therapy Department:
– Biology, Chemistry, College Algebra and
Trigonometry, Human Physiology, Physics,
English, Anthropology, Ethics, Psychology,
Statistics
Why Occupational Therapy?
• Government statistics indicate that occupational
therapy is one of the most in-demand
professions in the U.S., with rapid growth
expected throughout the next decade. Your
NYIT degree will prepare you to work as an OT
in medical facilities, private practices, schools,
and businesses. You’ll also be prepared for state
and professional licensing exams, and for postgraduate study in a variety of health care
professions.
Admission Criteria
• Students completed an essay
• Two professional letters of
recommendation
• Academic excellence in the sciences
• A personal interview
• An on-site essay on an assigned topic
Fieldwork
• Fieldwork
– Upon completion of academic coursework, students
engage in on-the-job training. Fieldwork is
synonymous with the concept of internship. Students
participate in fieldwork assignments that can take
them as far west as California.
– Fieldwork can be done at a variety of settings
• Hospitals or Medical Centers
• Nursing Homes
• Psychiatric Facilities
• Community Agencies
• Industrial Settings
• School Systems
Occupational Therapy
• An occupational therapy program is
individually designed to help restore lost
function from an injury or illness, learn life
style modification, or develop new skills
that will help be independent with your
work, play-leisure, or self-care activities.
Occupational Therapy
When skill and strength cannot be
developed or improved, an occupational
therapist can offer a creative solution or
alternatives for carrying out daily
activities.
SKIN
Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous Fat
Children 0–18 months
• Epidermis is loosely
connected to the dermis
• Variations in different
regions
http://www.images.md/users/i
mage_show.asp
SKIN FUNCTIONS
• Protects against
infection
• Prevents loss of bodily
fluids
• Controls body
temperature
• Sensory organ
• Excretory organ
• Produces vitamin D
• Influences body image
How Severe is the Burn?
• Depth
• Size
• Location
• Age
• Health
• Injury source
Medical Intervention
http://www.images.md/users/image_show.asp
Superficial Partial Thickness Burn
www.emedicine.com/
aaem/topic78.htm
Deep Partial Thickness Burn
http://www.images.md/users/
image_show.asp
Full Thickness Burn
http://www.images.md/use
rs/image_show.asp
www.emedicine.com/ed
/topic3401.htm
RISK FACTORS
• Healing time > 14 days
• Grafted regions
• Very young children
• Re-harvested donor site
• Ethnic groups
• Area of body
www.burnsurgery.org/.../
remold_phase.htm
Potential Dangers
• Fireworks
• Candles
• Campfires
• Hot coal
• BBQ grills
• Unchecked smoke
detectors
• Irons
• Vaporizers
• Lighters
• Electrical wires
• Internet
• Nail polish
• Treadmills
• Car lighters