Burns
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Medical Encyclopedia
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Other encyclopedia topics:
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Burns
Illustrations
Second degree burn; First degree burn; Third degree
burn
There are three levels of burns:
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First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the
skin. They cause pain, redness, and swelling.
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Second-degree (partial thickness) burns affect both the
outer and underlying layer of skin. They cause pain, redness, swelling, and
blistering.
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Third-degree (full thickness) burns extend into deeper
tissues. They cause white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb.
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Before giving first aid, evaluate how
extensively burned the person is and try to determine the depth of the most
serious part of the burn. Then treat the entire burn accordingly. If in doubt,
treat it as a severe burn.
By giving immediate first aid before
professional medical help arrives, you can help lessen the severity of the burn.
Prompt medical attention to serious burns can help prevent scarring, disability,
and deformity. Burns on the face, hands, feet, and genitals can be particularly
serious.
Children under age 4 and adults over age 60
have a higher chance of complications and death from severe burns.
In case of a fire, you and the others there
are at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Anyone with symptoms of headache,
numbness, weakness, or chest pain should be tested.
Burns can be caused by dry heat (like fire),
wet heat (such as steam or hot liquids), radiation, friction, heated objects,
the sun, electricity, or chemicals.
Thermal burns are the most common type.
Thermal burns occur when hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, or flames come in
contact with your skin. These are frequently the result of fires, automobile
accidents, playing with matches, improperly stored gasoline, space heaters, and
electrical malfunctions. Other causes include unsafe handling of firecrackers
and kitchen accidents (such as a child climbing on top of a stove or grabbing a
hot iron).
Burns to your airways can be caused by
inhaling smoke, steam, superheated air, or toxic fumes, often in a poorly
ventilated space.
Burns in children are sometimes traced to
parental abuse.
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Pain (the degree of pain is not related to the severity of the burn --
the most serious burns can be painless)
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Peeling skin
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Red skin
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Shock
(watch for pale and clammy skin, weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, and
a drop in alertness)
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Swelling
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White or charred skin
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Symptoms of an airway burn:
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Charred mouth; burned lips
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Burns on the head, face, or neck
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Wheezing
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Change in voice
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Difficulty breathing; coughing
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Singed nose hairs or eyebrows
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Dark, carbon-stained mucus
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FOR MINOR BURNS
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If the skin is unbroken, run cool water over the area of the burn or
soak it in a cool water bath (not ice water). Keep the area submerged for at
least 5 minutes. A clean, cold, wet towel will also help reduce pain.
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Calm and reassure the person.
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After flushing or soaking, cover the burn with a dry, sterile bandage or
clean dressing.
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Protect the burn from pressure and friction.
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Over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help relieve pain and
swelling. DO NOT give children under 12 aspirin. Once the skin has cooled,
moisturizing lotion also can help.
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Minor burns will usually heal without further treatment. However, if a
second-degree burn covers an area more than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, or if
it is located on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or a major joint,
treat the burn as a major burn.
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FOR MAJOR BURNS
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If someone is on fire, tell the person to STOP, DROP, and ROLL. Wrap the
person in thick material to smother the flames (a wool or cotton coat, rug,
or blanket). Douse the person with water.
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Call 911.
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Make sure that the person is no longer in contact with smoldering
materials. However, DO NOT remove burnt clothing that is stuck to the skin.
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Make sure the person is breathing. If breathing has stopped, or if the
person's airway is blocked, open the airway. If necessary, begin rescue
breathing and CPR.
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Cover the burn area with a dry sterile bandage (if available) or clean
cloth. A sheet will do if the burned area is large. DO NOT apply any
ointments. Avoid breaking burn blisters.
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If fingers or toes have been burned, separate them with dry, sterile,
non-adhesive dressings.
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Elevate the body part that is burned above the level of the heart.
Protect the burnt area from pressure and friction.
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Take steps to prevent shock.
Lay the person flat, elevate the feet about 12 inches, and cover him or her
with a coat or blanket. However, DO NOT place the person in this shock
position if a head, neck, back, or leg injury is suspected or if it makes
the person uncomfortable.
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Continue to monitor the person's vital signs until medical help arrives.
This means pulse,
rate of breathing, and blood
pressure.
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DO NOT apply ointment, butter, ice, medications, cream, oil spray, or
any household remedy to a severe burn.
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DO NOT breathe, blow, or cough on the burn.
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DO NOT disturb blistered or dead skin.
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DO NOT remove clothing that is stuck to the skin.
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DO NOT give the person anything by mouth, if there is a severe burn.
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DO NOT immerse a severe burn in cold water. This can cause shock.
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DO NOT place a pillow under the person's head if there is an airway
burn. This can close the airway.
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Call immediately for emergency medical
assistance if Return
to top
Call 911 if:
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The burn is extensive (the size of your palm or larger).
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The burn is severe (third degree).
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You aren't sure how serious it is.
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The burn is caused by chemicals or electricity.
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The person shows signs of shock.
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The person inhaled smoke.
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Physical abuse is the known or suspected cause of the burn.
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Call a doctor if your pain is still present
after 48 hours.
Call immediately if signs of infection
develop. These signs include increased pain, redness, swelling, drainage or pus
from the burn, swollen
lymph nodes, red streaks spreading from the burn, or fever.
Also call immediately if there are signs of
dehydration: thirst, dry skin, dizziness, lightheadedness, or decreased
urination. Children, elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system (e.g.,
HIV) should be seen right away.
To help prevent burns:
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Install smoke alarms in your home. Check and change batteries regularly.
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Teach children about fire safety and the hazards of matches and
fireworks.
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Keep children from climbing on top of a stove or grabbing hot items like
irons and oven doors.
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Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that children can't
grab them and they can't be accidentaly knocked over.
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Place fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school.
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Remove electrical cords from floors and keep them out of reach.
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Know about and practice fire escape routes at home, work, and school.
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Set temperature of water heater at 120 degrees or less.
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Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s
Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th Ed. St.
Louis, Mo.: London: Mosby; 2002:801-813.
Townsend, Jr., CM, ed. Sabiston Textbook
of Surgery. 17th Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2004:570-591.
Roberts JR, Hedges JR, eds. Clinical
Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th Ed. Philadelphia, PA:
Saunders; 2004:749-766.
Updated by: Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of
Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, MA.
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