Chapter 9: Burns
Types of Burns:
Thermal burns: caused by flames, contact with hot objects, flammable vapor that ignite and
causes a flash or an explosion, steam, or hot liquid
Chemical burns: Can cause tissue damage and death if they come in contact with the skin.
Three types of chemicals, acids, alkalis, and organic compounds are the most common chemical
burns
Electrical burns: The severity of the injury from electric current depends on the type of current
(direct or alternating), the voltage, the area of the body exposed, and the duration of contact.
Depth of Burns:
First degree(superficial): Affect the skin’s outer layer
Characteristics include redness, mild swelling, tenderness and pain
Second-degree (partial-thickness) burns: Extend though the skin’s entire outer layer and into
the inner layer
Blisters, swelling, weeping of fluids
Third-degree (full thickness) burns: Severe burns that penetrate all the skin layers and the
underlying fat and muscle
The skin looks leathery, waxy, or pearly gray, sometimes charred
The victim feels no pain from a third degree burn because the nerve endings have been damaged
or destroyed
Extent of Burns: Determine the severity of the burn
Rule of the Hand: The victim’s entire hand represents about 1% of his or her total body surface
area (BSA)
Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals are more severe than on other body parts
Care of Thermal Burns:
 First-Degree Burns:
Cool the burn with cold water until the part is pain free (at least 10 minutes)
After the burn cools, apply an Aloe Vera gel or skin moisturizer to keep skin
moistened and reduce itching and peeling
Give ibuprofen to relieve pain and inflammation. Give acetaminophen to children

Second Degree Burns:
Remove clothing and jewelry from the burned area
Cool the burn with cold water until the part is pain free
After the burn has been cooled, apply antibiotic ointment
Cover the burn loosely with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing to keep the clean
Give ibuprofen to relieve pain and inflammation. Give acetaminophen for children

Large Second Degree and All Third Degree Burns
Monitor breathing
Remove clothing and jewelry that is not stuck to the burned area
Cover the burn with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing
Care for shock
Seek medical care
Chemical Burns: a chemical burn results when a caustic or corrosive substance touches the skin
Remove as fast as possible
Care for Chemical Burns:
Immediately flush the area with a large quantity of water for 20 minutes, if the
chemical is a dry powder brush the powder from skin before flushing
Remove the victims contaminated clothing and jewelry while flushing with water
Cover the affected area with a dry, sterile or clean dressing
Seek medical care
Electrical Burns:
Thermal (flame): clothing or objects in contact with the skin are ignited by an electric current
Arc burn (flash): when electricity jumps from one spot to another
True electrical injury (contact): when an electric current passes directly through the body, which
can disrupt the normal heart rhythm and cause cardiac arrest and burns
Care for Electrical Burns:
Make sure the area is safe, unplug, disconnect, or turn of the power, if that is possible
call 9-1-1
Monitor breathing
If the victim fell, check for a possible spinal injury
Care for shock
Call 9-1-1 for medical care
Chapter 9: Burns
Types of Burns:
Thermal burns: _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chemical burns: Can cause tissue damage and death if they come in contact with the skin.
Three types of chemicals, acids, alkalis, and organic compounds are the most common chemical
burns
Electrical burns: The severity of the injury from electric current depends on the type of current
(direct or alternating), the voltage, the area of the body exposed, and the duration of contact.
Depth of Burns:
First degree(superficial): ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Second-degree (partial-thickness) burns: Extend though the skin’s entire outer layer and into
the inner layer
Blisters, swelling, weeping of fluids
Third-degree (full thickness) burns: ________________________________________
________________________________________
The skin looks leathery, waxy, or pearly gray, sometimes charred
The victim feels no pain from a third degree burn because the nerve endings have been damaged
or destroyed
Extent of Burns: Determine the severity of the burn
______________________The victim’s entire hand represents about 1% of his or her total body
surface area (BSA)
Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals are more severe than on other body parts
Care of Thermal Burns:
 First-Degree Burns:
Cool the burn with cold water until the part is pain free (at least 10 minutes)
After the burn cools, apply an Aloe Vera gel or skin moisturizer to keep skin
moistened and reduce itching and peeling
________________________________________ ____________________________

Second Degree Burns:
Remove clothing and jewelry from the burned area
________________________________________
After the burn has been cooled, apply antibiotic ointment
Cover the burn loosely with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing to keep the clean
Give ibuprofen to relieve pain and inflammation. Give acetaminophen for children

Large Second Degree and All Third Degree Burns
________________________________________
Remove clothing and jewelry that is not stuck to the burned area
Cover the burn with a dry, nonstick, sterile or clean dressing
________________________________________
Seek medical care
Chemical Burns: a chemical burn results when a caustic or corrosive substance touches the skin
Remove as fast as possible
Care for Chemical Burns:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Remove the victims contaminated clothing and jewelry while flushing with water
Cover the affected area with a dry, sterile or clean dressing
Seek medical care
Electrical Burns:
Thermal (flame): ________________________________________
Arc burn (flash): when electricity jumps from one spot to another
________________________________________when an electric current passes directly
through the body, which can disrupt the normal heart rhythm and cause cardiac arrest and burns
Care for Electrical Burns:
Make sure the area is safe, unplug, disconnect, or turn of the power, if that is possible
call 9-1-1
________________________________________
If the victim fell, check for a possible spinal injury
Care for shock
________________________________________