ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TITLE III
Numeric Skills Assignment
Interdisciplinary Course Materials
Biology
Course:
MT001
Course Outline Topic:
Converting between percents and fractions
Finding percents
Project Title:
“Rule of Nines”
Project description:
Students will use the “Rule of Nines” to estimate the body
surface area damage to burn victims. Students will use this
information to evaluate percents and convert fractions.
Author:
Sherri Kobis – North Campus Mathematics Department
Curriculum Expert:
Thomas Franco – North Campus Biology Department
Semester Created:
Spring 2009
A.
Essential Question
How is body surface area damage estimated in a burn victim?
B.
Introduction
Treatment and recovery for burn victims are dependent on the degree and severity
of the burn(s) and the percentage of the body’s surface area that is damaged.
There are three degrees of burns:
* 1st degree (epidermal) burns – example: a sunburn
- discomfort, itching, redness, possible skin peeling
- drink plenty of fluids to re-hydrate body tissues
- use topical compounds (creams) to initiate healing and reduce discomfort
- typically no scarring occurs
* 2nd degree (partial-thickness) burns
- blisters of varying size, very painful, swelling
- damage to epidermis and upper layers of dermis
- some scarring is possible
*3rd degree (full thickness) burns
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- total destruction of epidermis and dermis and some destruction of
subcutaneous layer including bone and/or muscle
- little to no pain due to major nerve destruction
- high amount of fluid loss frequently leads to death…hydration is key to
survival
- severe scarring and most will require skin grafting to initiate the healing
process
The “rule of nines” is used in clinical settings for estimating the surface area on an adult’s
body that has been damaged in a fire. The body is divided into 11 different areas of 9%
each with the inguinal (groin) region representing 1% of the body’s surface area.
This is shown in the picture:
Anterior (Front) View
Posterior (Back) View
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This is also shown in the table:
Anatomic Structure
Head and neck
Anterior (front) torso
Posterior (back) torso
Each leg
Each arm
Genitalia
C.
Surface Area
9%
18%
18%
18%
9%
1%
Basic Directions
You are given three burn situations. For each one you must answer the questions
showing all work in a neat and orderly manner.
D.
Things to Learn Before Starting the Project
You must be able to find percents and convert between percents and fractions.
E.
The Project Assignment
Complete all questions for each of the following situations. Show all work neatly
on this paper. All fractions must be in simplest form.
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Situation #1
The shaded area on Victim #1 represents burned skin. Use the “rule of nines” given in
the introduction to answer the questions.
1.
a. What percent of Victim #1’s body surface area has 1st degree burns?
b. What fraction of Victim #1’s body surface area has 1st degree burns?
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2.
a. What percent of Victim #1’s body surface area has 2nd degree burns?
b. What fraction of Victim #1’s body surface area has 2nd degree burns?
Situation #2
The shaded area on Victim #2 represents burned skin. Use the “rule of nines” given in
the introduction to answer the questions.
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1.
a. What percent of Victim #2’s body surface area has 1st degree burns?
b. What percent of Victim #2’s body surface area has 2nd degree burns?
c. What percent of Victim #2’s body surface area has 3rd degree burns?
2.
What is the total burned surface area for Victim #2?
3.
a. What percent of the total burned area consists of 1st degree burns?
(Round to the nearest hundredth.)
b. What percent of the total burned area consists of 2nd degree burns?
(Round to the nearest hundredth.)
c. What percent of the total burned area consists of 3rd degree burns?
(Round to the nearest hundredth.)
4.
a. What percent of Victim #2’s body is not burned?
b. What fraction of Victim #2’s body is not burned?
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Situation #3
It is sometimes recommended that patients with partial thickness (2nd degree) burns
covering more than one-tenth of the body be referred to a burn unit for special care. For
each of the patients below, use the ‘rule of nines’ to find what percent of the body has
partial thickness burns and, using this recommendation, decide whether or not the patient
should be referred to a special burn unit.
Patient A
1.
Approximately what percent of Patient A’s body surface area contains partial
thickness burns?
2.
Should Patient A be sent to a burn unit? Why or why not?
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Patient B
1.
Approximately what percent of Patient B’s body surface area contains partial
thickness burns?
2.
Should Patient B be sent to a burn unit? Why or why not?
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F.
Student Resources
MT001 Textbook, www.eMedicineHealth.com,
www.burnsurvivor.com/burn_types.html
G.
Faculty Resources
www.eMedicineHealth.com, www.burnsurvivor.com/burn_types.html
H.
Grading Rubric
This project is worth 50 points given the suggested point values with the answers below.
Situation #1
1.
a. 18%
b. 9/50
(+3)
(+2)
2.
a. 9%
b. 9/100
(+3)
(+2)
1.
a. 18%
b. 9%
c. 4.5%
(+2)
(+2)
(+2)
2.
31.5%
(+2)
3.
a. 57.14%
b. 28.57%
c. 14.29%
(+6)
(+6)
(+6)
4.
a. 68.5%
b. 137/200
(+3)
(+3)
Situation #2
Situation #3
Patient A
1. approximately 13.5%
2. Yes. 13.5% is greater than one-tenth.
(+2)
(+2)
Patient B
1. approximately 4.5%
2. No. 4.5% is less than one-tenth.
(+2)
(+2)
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