Chapter 29 - Burns Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Burns are classified according to what?

Depth of injury

What layer of skin does a superficial burn affect?

Epidermis

What layer(s) does a partial-thickness burn affect?

Epidermis and part of the dermis

What layer(s) does a full-thickness burn affect?

All layers of the skin and can extend to muscle, bone or organs Signup and view all the answers

What are the classifications of burns?

Critical, Moderate, Minor Signup and view all the answers

What are the most important factors in determining burn severity?

Burn percentage, location of the body surface involved, patient age, pre-existing medical condition Signup and view all the answers

How long should you flush chemicals from the patient?

20 minutes Signup and view all the answers

What do you need to do before flushing the chemicals?

Brush off the dry chemicals Signup and view all the answers

What is a circumferential burn?

A burn that encircles a body area Signup and view all the answers

What is eschar?

The hard, tough, leathery, dead soft tissue formed as a result of a full-thickness burn Signup and view all the answers

What is a full-thickness burn?

Burn that involves all of the layers of the skin and can extend beyond the subcutaneous layer into the muscle, bone, or organs below Signup and view all the answers

What is a partial-thickness burn?

A burn that involves the epidermis and portions of the dermis Signup and view all the answers

What is the rule of nines?

Standardized format used to quickly identify the amount or percentage of skin or body surface area that has been burned Signup and view all the answers

What is a superficial burn?

A burn that involves only the epidermis Signup and view all the answers

What do the letters BSA stand for in burn assessments?

Body surface area Signup and view all the answers

What classification of burns is caused by flash flame, hot liquid or the sun?

Superficial burn (first-degree) Signup and view all the answers

What would indicate a deep partial-thickness burn?

Skin is red and blanched white Signup and view all the answers

What kind of burn damages blood vessels, causing plasma and tissue fluid to collect between layers of the skin?

Partial-thickness burn (second-degree) Signup and view all the answers

Burns to the face are considered _____?

Critical Signup and view all the answers

You are treating a patient with an electrical burn that extends into the muscle. What kind of burn is this?

Fourth-degree burn Signup and view all the answers

In a child, partial-thickness burns of 10-20% are considered?

Moderate Signup and view all the answers

What age group is least tolerant of burn injuries?

Children under age 5 and adults over age 55 Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps of emergency medical care of burn injuries?

Remove the patient from the source of the burn, assess airway, breathing, and mental status, classify the severity of the burn and transport if needed, cover the burned area with dry, sterile dressing, keep the patient warm and treat other injuries, transport to the appropriate facility Signup and view all the answers

When treating a burn patient, it is inappropriate to apply the rule of nines to what type of burns?

Superficial burns Signup and view all the answers

Why should burned fingers or toes be separated with dry, sterile dressings?

To prevent adherence of burned areas Signup and view all the answers

What is an appropriate treatment for a patient who has sustained a burn to his right eye?

Apply a dry sterile dressing to both eyes Signup and view all the answers

What would be considered inappropriate care for a patient with a chemical burn?

Dry chemicals should be immediately flushed off the patient Signup and view all the answers

You are treating a patient who has sustained a superficial partial-thickness burn from touching a hot exhaust pipe on a vehicle. What type of mechanism caused this burn?

Contact burn Signup and view all the answers

What is correct about the assessment and care of an electrical burn patient?

All tissues between the entrance and exit wounds be injured Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification of Burns

Burns are classified based on the depth of injury: superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness.
Critical, moderate, and minor classifications help assess burn severity.

Layers of Skin Affected

Superficial burns involve only the epidermis layer.
Partial-thickness burns affect both the epidermis and part of the dermis.
Full-thickness burns extend through all layers of skin, potentially damaging underlying muscles, bones, or organs.

Factors Determining Burn Severity

Severity is influenced by burn percentage, location on the body, patient age, and pre-existing medical conditions.

Emergency Treatment Protocol

Flush chemicals off the patient for 20 minutes after brushing off dry chemicals.
Assess airway, breathing, and mental status, then classify the burn severity.
Cover burn with dry, sterile dressing and keep the patient warm during transport.

Special Considerations

Burns to the face are categorized as critical.
In children, partial-thickness burns of 10-20% are classified as moderate.
Children under 5 and adults over 55 are less tolerant of burn injuries.

Burn Types and Indicators

The "Rule of Nines" is used to estimate burn area, but not for superficial burns.
Deep partial-thickness burns are characterized by red skin that blanches white.
Chemical burns require careful handling; immediate flushing with water is inappropriate for dry chemicals.

Treatment Techniques

Use dry, sterile dressings to separate burned fingers or toes, preventing adherence.
For eye burns, apply a sterile dressing to both eyes.
Recognize that in electrical burns, all tissues between points of entrance and exit can be affected.

Additional Information

Eschar is the tough tissue that forms from full-thickness burns.
Contact burns are caused by direct contact with hot surfaces.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the classification and layers affected by different types of burns. This quiz covers superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness burns, depicting the depth of injury and their impact on skin layers. Perfect for those studying burns in medical or health-related fields.