Lesson Outlines
Chapter 11
Lesson 11: Burns
Lesson Objectives
After completing this lesson, participants should be able to:
 Identify three types of burns.
 Discuss how to determine burn severity.
 Explain how to care for thermal, chemical, and electrical burns.
Points
Burns
 An estimated 2 million burn injuries occur each year in the United States,
resulting 75,000 hospitalizations and more than 3,000 deaths.
 It is estimated that about 70% of all burn injuries occur in the home, with house
fires responsible for the majority of fire deaths.
 Skin death and injury occur as the applied heat exceeds the body’s ability to
disperse the heat; that point starts at about 113°F.
 The amount and depth of skin damage depend on the heat’s intensity, the duration
of contact, and the skin’s thickness.
Types of Burns
 Thermal (heat) burns
 Chemical burns
 Electrical burns
Thermal Burns
 Contact with flames, hot objects, hot liquid, and steam are some common causes
of burns.
 Just 3 seconds of exposure to water at 140°F can cause a full-thickness burn in an
adult.
 At 156°F, the same burn occurs in 1 second.
Evaluating a Thermal Burn
 Depth (degree) of burn
o First-degree (superficial)
o Second-degree (partial thickness)
o Third-degree (full thickness)
 Extent of burn (Rule of palm)
 Determine which parts of body are burned.
 Determine whether other injuries or preexisting medical problems exist
o Is the patient is elderly or very young?
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Lesson Outlines
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Chapter 11
Determine the severity of the burn.
Care for Thermal Burns
 Stop the burning process.
 If clothing is burning, have the victim drop to the floor and roll.
o Smother the flames with a blanket or douse with water.
 Once the fire is extinguished, remove hot clothing.
o Remove jewelry if possible.
 Monitor the victim’s breathing.
Recognizing First-Degree Burns (Superficial)
 Redness
 Mild swelling
 Tenderness
 Pain
Care for First-Degree Burns
 Immerse the burned area in cold water or apply a wet, cold cloth to reduce pain.
 Administer ibuprofen to relieve pain.
 Have the victim drink as much water as possible without becoming nauseated.
 After the burn has been cooled, apply an aloe vera gel to reduce itching and
peeling.
 Raise a burned arm or leg to reduce swelling and pain.
Recognizing Second-Degree Burns (Partial Thickness)
 Blisters
 Swelling
 Weeping fluids
 Intense pain
Care for Small Second-Degree Burns
 Immerse the burned area in cold water.
 Administer ibuprofen to relieve pain.
 Have the victim drink as much water as possible without becoming nauseated.
 Cover burn with dry, nonstick, sterile dressing.
 Seek medical care for burns covering more than 20% of the BSA in adults, or
10% to 20% in children or the elderly.
Care for Large Second-Degree Burns
 Do not apply cold because it could cause hypothermia.
 Follow steps 2 and 3 for small second-degree burns.
 Cover the burn with a dry, nonstick, sterile dressing.
 Treat victim for shock.
 Seek medical care.
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Lesson Outlines
Chapter 11
Third-Degree Burns (Full Thickness)
 Dead nerve endings
 Leathery, waxy skin
 Pearly gray or charred skin
Care for Third-Degree Burns
 It is usually not necessary to apply cold to third-degree burns because pain is
absent.
 Any pain felt with a third-degree burn comes from accompanying first- and
second-degree burns, for which cold applications can be helpful.
 Cover the burn with dry, nonstick, sterile dressing.
 Treat the victim for shock.
 Seek medical care.
Chemical Burns
 A chemical burn results from a caustic or corrosive substance.
 Acids, alkalis, and organic compounds
 They continue to burn as long as they are in contact with the skin; remove
quickly.
 First aid is the same for all chemical burns.
Care for Chemical Burns
 Flush the body portion with water.
o Brush dry chemicals from the skin before flushing.
o Take precautions to protect yourself from the chemical.
 Remove contaminated clothing or jewelry.
 Flush for 20 minutes or longer.
o Let the victim wash with a mild soap before rinse.
 Cover the burned area with a dry, sterile, dressing.
 Seek medical attention immediately.
Electrical Burns
 Three types of electrical injuries
o Thermal burn (flame)
o Arc burn (flash)
o True electrical injury (contact)
Care for Electrical Burns
 Make sure the scene is safe.
 Unplug, disconnect, or turn off the power.
o If that is impossible, call 9-1-1 for help.
 Never touch an energized wire, object, or the victim yourself.
 Monitor breathing and treat accordingly.
 If the victim fell, check for a spinal injury.
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Lesson Outlines
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Chapter 11
Treat victim for shock by elevating the legs 6 to 12 inches if no spinal injury is
suspected.
Place blankets under and over victim.
Seek medical care immediately.
o Electrical injuries may require treatment in a burn center.
Contact with an electrical current
 If there are downed power lines, turn off power before approaching patient.
 If you feel a tingling sensation in your legs and lower body as you approach the
victim, stop.
 The sensation signals that you are on energized ground and that an electric current
is entering through one foot and exiting through the other foot.
 If you can safely reach the victim, do not attempt to move any wires.
 Do not attempt to move any downed wires unless you are trained and equipped
with the appropriate tools.
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