Attached you will find the second edition this year of the UNMH Health Source, our community newsletter.

1. UNMH Health Source
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 DECEMBER 2011
UNMH Burn Unit One of a Kind in NM
Special points
of interest: More than one million burn also tries to decrease burn
injuries occur every year injury prevalence by providing
 UNMH Burn Unit throughout the U.S. More public education through
than 450,000 of those burns community outreach.
Unique in NM
receive medical treatment.
Burn treatment requires a
 Types of Burn The UNM Hospitals Burn
multidisciplinary approach
Unit is the only one of its kind
Injuries involving various healthcare
in the state of New Mexico.
professionals, including
 Burn Classification The nearest burn resource
physicians, surgeons,
centers are hundreds of miles
physician assistants, nurse
 Burn Prevention away (Lubbock, TX; Phoenix,
practitioners, registered UNMH Adult Burn Unit
AZ; Denver, CO).
Education nurses, burn techs, physical
The UNMH Burn Unit has and occupational therapists,
 UNMH Burn Unit Burn care is an ongoing
six private, adult rooms within case management services,
process and is continued after
Contact the trauma surgical burn ICU pharmacists, respiratory
hospital discharge. Patients
that provides care for all burn therapists and nutritionists.
Information are seen one to two weeks
injuries from admission to All burn unit nurses are
after discharge and return
discharge. Pediatric patients trained to meet the complex
based on medical team
are treated in various units needs of the specialized burn
recommendations. The clinic
(Pediatric ICU and Carrie patient population, and their
staff is available for concerns
Tingley Rehab Hospital) families and friends
about infection, fever and
based on injury severity and participating in patient care.
medication refills.
current needs. The Burn Unit
Types of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be quite (explosions), flame, scalds and DC (direct current). The
serious and vary in levels of contact. current follows the path of
severity. The four basic types least resistance, causing injury
Chemical burns are caused
of burns include thermal, in areas other than the contact
by strong acids or alkali
chemical, electrical and site.
substances and continue to
radiological.
Example of a first cause damage until the agent Radiological burns are caused
degree, thermal burn Thermal burns are the most is inactivated. by alpha, beta or gamma
common type of burn injury radiation and sometimes need
Electrical burns are caused by
and can be caused in various decontamination to stop the
AC (alternating current) and
ways including flash injury.

2. PAGE 2 UNMH HEALTH SOURCE
Burn Classification: First, Second, Third and Fourth
First degree burns include only the painful and wet in appearance. They
outer layer of skin (epidermis). Areas heal in 10-21 days usually without
are usually very red and painful grafting. Deep partial thickness burns
making them equivalent to superficial involve the destruction of the entire
sunburn without blisters. They look epidermis and most of the dermis.
dry healing occurs in three to five They are red or white and look dry.
days. Hospitalization may be needed They typically require excision and
for pain control and fluid imbalance. skin grafting to heal.
 continued, next page
Second degree burns are classified as
either superficial or deep in thickness.
Partial thickness burns involve the
entire epidermis and upper layers of
the dermis. Blisters can be present and
wounds are pink or red in color,
IAFF Local 244 Partners with UNMH Burn Unit
On August 25, 2011, the International The Albuquerque area fire fighters
Association of Fire Fighter Local 244 also plan to help the Burn Unit obtain
formed a partnership with the UNMH American Burn Association Burn
Burn Unit. Albuquerque area fire Center Verification. This certification
fighters presented the Burn Unit with requires organizational structure,
a $15,000 donation to help focus on specialized data bases, community
providing expanded treatment for education, pre-hospital care and
burned children, adolescents and fire special burn treatment equipment.
fighters in New Mexico. The
The partnership will also allow for
partnership involves plans to facilitate
other hospitals and fire departments
education and community outreach,
to build awareness of the triage, IAFF Local 244 member
summer camps and follow-up care for presents Dr. Christopher Lentz,
treatment and transfer guidelines for
patients and families. Burn Unit Medical Director,
patients throughout New Mexico.
with a $15,000 check.
Burn Prevention Education
One of the Burn Unit’s goals is to  Coil appliance cords  Keep a fire extinguisher available
decrease burn injuries by educating the and in proper working order
community about prevention. Simple  Create a safe “no zone” in the
household items can trigger unwanted kitchen for children while  Contain grease fires with baking
injuries. Following these cooking soda or flour, not water
recommendations can help families  Never let children remove food  Never use an extension
stay safe and prevent serious injuries. or drinks from the microwave cord with kitchen
In the kitchen: appliances
 Do not use tablecloths around
 Keep pot handles turned away small children as they can pull on  continued, next page
from edges of the stove them and hot food can spill

3. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 PAGE 3
Burn Education and Prevention
 continued from page 2
In the bathroom: educate your child about their Flammable liquids:
hazards
 Set hot water heater thermostat to  Gasoline is only to be used for
less than 120 degrees when  Place floor heaters at least four combustible engines
bathing children feet away from any object and
 Do not clean with gasoline
never place anything on top of
 Stir the bath water with your
them  Do not use gasoline to start
hand to avoid hot spots
 Test smoke detectors monthly fires, woodstoves or barbeques
 Stay with your child at all times
and change the batteries every six
during a bath (it only takes a months. Change smoke detectors
second for a child to turn on the every eight to 10 years
hot water)
 Develop an evacuation plan and
Around the house:
practice monthly with your family
 Matches and lighters should be
kept in a high, locked cabinet;
Burn Classification: First, Second, Third and Fourth
 continued from page 2
In third degree burns, all layers of the Fourth degree burns are full thickness
skin are destroyed. The injury is and extend into the muscle and
extended into the subcutaneous bone.
tissues (see skin graph below). The
Determining burn depth is very
burned area can appear black or white,
important. Things to consider are
leathery in texture and is very dry.
temperature, mechanism, duration
of contact, blood flow to skin and
injury location. Epidermal depth
varies with body surface, which can
offer varying degrees of thermal
protection. Keep in mind that older
adults and younger children have
thinner skin.
UNMH Burn Unit Staff
Medical Director: RN Supervisor/Burn Program
Christopher Lentz, MD, FACS Coordinator:
Jennifer Ramon RN, BSN, CCRN
Physician’s Assistant:
Dixie Reid, PA-C Adult ICU Nurses:
David Basilio, RN
Unit Director:
Andrea Gallegos, RN
Catherine Beckmann, RN, MS/
Janeya Padilla, RN
MBA
Sonia Ortega, RN
Annie Vallejos, RN
 continued, next page

4. PAGE 4
h t t p : / / h o s p i t a l s. u n m . e d u
Burn Center Admission
UNM Hospital Burn Unit Statistics 2000-2009
2211 Lomas Blvd. NE
Survival Rate: 94.8%
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Phone: 505-272-2721 Gender: 70% Male, 30% Female
If you would like further information or Ethnicity: 63% Caucasian,
are interested in community outreach 17% African American, 14% Hispanic,
or educational opportunities, please
6% Other
contact Jennifer Ramon at 462-5087 or
jenramon@salud.unm.edu. Admission Cause: 42% Fire/Flame,
The UNMH Burn Clinic Surgical Specialty 31% Scald, 9% Contact,
Area is on the second floor of the main 4% Electrical, 3% Chemical, 11% Other
hospital and is for adult and pediatric
appointments and nursing concerns Place of Occurrence: 66% Home,
about fever and/or pain. Call 272-2337 10% Occupational, 8% Street/Highway,
for more information. 16% Other
Burn Center Staff
 Continued from page 3
Kathy Trujillo RN III, BSN, ACM,
Certified Nurse Case Manager
Rehabilitation Services:
Sunflower Chirieleison, MPT- primary
burn physical therapist
Kerry Trautwein, OT/L-primary burn
occupational therapist
Nutritional Support:
Adult Burn Techs: Jennifer Martinez RD, LD, CNSC
Paula West RD, LD
Diana Sena & Tiffany Anchando
Pharmacists, Residents, Intensivists,
Database Registrar: Respiratory Therapists, Conscious
Mercedes Syers, CHUC Sedation & Wound Care
Care Management Services:
Peggy Hoffman LMSW, CCM, LSAS