Burns are injuries to the skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light or friction. They can range from minor first degree burns involving only the outer layer of skin to more severe third degree burns destroying both the outer and inner layers of skin. Treatment depends on the severity of the burn but may include cooling the burn, applying antibiotic ointment, wrapping it to prevent infection, and for more serious burns, fluid replacement, skin grafts or other procedures in a hospital setting. Complications can include shock, infection, organ dysfunction and respiratory distress if not properly treated.

2. A type of injury to the skin caused by heat, electricity,
chemicals, light, radiation or friction.
This can be complicated by shock, infection, multiple
organ dysfunction, syndrome, electrolyte imbalance and
respiratory distress.

3. types of burn injury
THERMAL BURN INJURIES
CHEMICAL BURNS
ELECTRICAL BURNS

4. THERMAL BURN INJURIES
BACK
- The result of contact with heat
sources such as fire, steam, hot
liquids, hot metals and hot objects
o Fire/Flame Injury- Explosions, Home
& other structural fires & Car
accidents can cause fire injury
o Scalding Injury- Hot water, hot
beverages, steam and hot food can all
cause scalding.

5. Chemical burns
- Chemical burns occur when certain acids, alkaloids
and other caustic chemicals come into contact with
the skin.
E.g.
o Household cleaners that contain lye (paint cleaners),
sulfuric acid (toilet bowl cleaners), phenol
(deodorizers), or sodium hypochlorite (disinfectants
and bleaches)
BACK

6. Electrical burns
-Electrical burns occur when electric current passes through the
body, causing both external and internal injuries. Most of the
damage from electric current occurs beneath the surface of the skin.
Low Voltage -when a low-voltage electric current (less than
500 volts) passes through the body, it generally does not
cause severe burns
High Voltage- High voltage burns occur when an
electric current of more than 1000 volts passes
through the body. Electrical burn complications can be
very serious

7. RISK FACTORS
AGE DRUG USE GENDER
SMOKING SOCIO-ECONOMIC
STATUS SUN EXPOSURE
SEASONAL
UNSAFE HEATING
PRACTICES

8. Signs & symptoms
Parts:
 Minor- painful and cause reddening and blistering of the skin
 Severe- painless causes white or charred area
Classifications of Burns:
-Traditionally classified
as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
degree
-Now classified as
superficial, partial
thickness and full
thickness

10. First degree
(superficial burn)
Signs & Symptoms
• Reddened skin
• Pain at burn site
• Involves only epidermis
Involves the epidermis
Characterized by
reddening
Tenderness and Pain
Increased warmth
Edema may occur,
but no blistering
Burn blanches under
pressure
Example - sunburn
Usually heal in ~ 7 days

11. SECOND DEGREE
(PARTIAL THICKNESS)
Signs & Symptoms
-Intense pain
• White to red skin
• Blisters
• Involves epidermis
& dermis
• Damage extends through the
epidermis and involves the dermis.
• Not enough to interfere with
regeneration of the epithelium
• Moist, shiny appearance
• Salmon pink to red color
• Painful
• Does not have to blister to be 2nd
degree
• Usually heal in ~7-21 days

12. Third degree
(Full Thickness)
Signs& Symptoms
 Dry, leathery skin
 (white, dark brown, or charred)
 Loss of sensation (little pain)
 All dermal layers/tissue
be involved
 Both epidermis and dermis are
destroyed
 Thick, dry appearance
 Pearly gray or charred black color
 Painless - nerve endings are
destroyed
 Pain is due to intermixing of 2nd
degree
 May be minor bleeding
 Cannot heal and require grafting

13. DIAGNOSTIC TEST
These techniques enable doctors to analyze the depth and severity of
the burn beyond what a standard clinical evaluation can reveal.
BIOPSY- removing and studying sample tissue, it examines
the extent of collagen damage to the skin, vascular damage
to the tissue, and damage to cell proteins in the skin.
THERMOGRAPHY- studies of burn temperature, determine
the exact depth of a burn wound, deeper wounds are
cooler than more superficial wounds. There is reduced
vascular perfusion, or blood circulation, to the deeper
wounds, leading to a lower temperature.
VIDEO ANGRIOGRAPHY- measures changes in the
perfusion of tissues by injecting a substance called
indiocyanine green intravenously. Damaged tissues have
poor circulation, which is visualized by the videography.

14. Treatment for Burns
(First Degree)
1. Run cool water on burned area for
5 - 10 minutes or cover the area
with a cool compress.
1. Don't apply oil, butter, or ice to the
burn.
2. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to
relieve pain and swelling.
3. Any burn to the eye requires
immediate emergency help.

15. Treatment for Burns
(Second Degree)
1. Do not break blisters.
2. Do not remove clothing that is stuck to the skin.
3. Run cool water on burned area for 5 - 10
minutes, or cover the area with a cool compress
then carefully remove clothing that is not stuck
to the skin.
4. Elevate burned area above the heart.
5. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve
pain and swelling.
6. If not near a medical facility, apply bacitracin
ointment or honey on broken blisters to
prevent infection (this is the only situation in
which bacitracin or honey should be applied to
burned skin).
7. If the burn is near the mouth, nose, or eye,
seek emergency medical help immediately.

16. The Treatment of Critical Burns at the Hospital
Fluid Replacement- replace lost fluids with
intravenous fluids
Infection Control- prescribe oral or intravenous
antibiotics to prevent infection
Debridement- debride severe burns to remove
damaged or contaminated tissue
Skin Grafts-taking skin from an area of the body
that has not been burned and transplanting it to the
area that has been burned
Pain Management- prescribe intravenous
morphine for the first 24 to 48 hours after admission or
surgery and then prescribe oral narcotic medication.
Physical and Occupational Therapy-
provide physical therapy for burn patients that have
difficulty with large motor tasks such as walking &
occupational therapy for patients that have difficulty
with activities of daily living and small motor tasks
like using their hands.

17. Prevention
1. Supervise children closely around
fires, hot items, and electrical outlets.
2. Have smoke alarms installed in your
home.
3. Have a fire extinguisher available in
your home.
4. Set your water heater at 120° F or less.
5. Teach children to stop, drop and roll.
6. If a person is on fire, smother the fire
with a blanket or other clothing item.

18. Complications
Minor burns
 deeper burns can cause scar tissue to form,
usually superficial and do not cause complications
Severe burns
 Dehydration
 Shock develops if dehydration is severe
 Chemical imbalances
 Destruction of muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis)
sometimes occurs with deep third-degree burns.
 Infection;Sometimes the infection can spread
throughout the bloodstream and cause severe
illness or death.
 Thick, crusty surfaces (eschars) Eschars can
become too tight, cutting off blood supply to
healthy tissues or impairing breathing.