Burns 1305

Question 1

What are the four ways burns can occur?

Answer 1

Thermal

Chemical

Electrical

Radiation

Question 2

Between the epidermis and the dermis, which is thicker?

Answer 2

Dermis

Question 3

What is best described as a burn only affecting the epidermis?

Answer 3

First-degree burn

Question 4

What kind of burn is a sunburn?

Answer 4

Radiation, often only first degree

Question 5

As per Jackson’s Burn Model, which area described has the BEST perfusion?

Answer 5

Zone of Hyperemia

Question 6

As per Jackson’s Burn Model, which area described is irreversibly damaged?

Answer 6

Zone of Coagulation

(band name??)

Question 7

As per Jackson’s Burn Model, which area described has dangerously low perfusion?

Answer 7

Zone of Stasis

Question 8

Of all three zones in Jackson’s Burn Model, which one is of the most concern in relation to treatment?

Answer 8

The zone of Stasis as it is most at risk of becoming poorly perfused, leading to SECONDARY necrosis

Question 9

What are the characteristics of a first-degree burn?

Answer 9

Red, Painful, DRY

Will heal without scarring

Only affecting the epidermis

Question 10

What are the characteristics of a second-degree burn?

Answer 10

Red, Painful, WET, BLISTERS

Will most likely heal without scarring

Affects epidermis and some dermis

Question 11

What are the characteristics of a third-degree burn?

Answer 11

Yellow/White, only painful peripherally, DRY

Will not heal without scarring

Affects epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat

Question 12

What is eschar tissue?

Answer 12

Tissues denatured by third-degree burns, becoming leathery and dry

Question 13

What are the characteristics of a fourth-degree burn?

Answer 13

Burns affecting tendons, ligaments and bone.

Question 14

Gross charring aside, what is the pathophysiology of burn-related death?

Answer 14

Systemic hypotension following massive increase in capillary permeability

Question 15

What kind of shock would you expect a burn patient to go into?

Answer 15

Hypovolemic shock secondary to massive fluid loss

Question 16

What is the reasoning for capillary permeability sharply increasing secondary to a burn?

Answer 16

Two reasons:

Histamine release secondary to injury (normal reaction)

Loss of vascular regulation following damage to tissues

Question 17

Once a burn is properly cared for, what remains an ongoing concern in treatment?

Answer 17

Infection is highly common in burns

Question 18

Flames, scalding and flash are all examples of which kind of burn?

Answer 18

Thermal

Question 19

Between acids and bases, which chemicals will typically cause worse burns?

Answer 19

Bases

Question 20

Why is decontamination important in cases of chemical burns?

Answer 20

Often, chemical burns will continue to progress in severity until the chemical is cleaned off.

This also poses a safety issue to responders/receiving facilities

Question 21

What documentation should be sought in cases of chemical burns?

Answer 21

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

They will tell you what the chemical is, what hazards it poses and how to deal with it
(yay, health and safety reps)

Question 22

True or false:

Electrical burns will follow the route that the electricity flowed through the body

Answer 22

True

(pretty metal, yo)

Question 23

Why is ECG monitoring important in electrocution patients?

Answer 23

Cardiac arrhythmias due to impromptu cardioversion

Question 24

What is tetany?

Answer 24

Involuntary muscle contraction

Question 25

According to the PP, what is considered high voltage?

Answer 25

> 500V

Question 26

What is the common patho of a lightning strike arrest?

Answer 26

Strike causes widespread cellular depolarization, the myocardium is quick to recover but the respiratory center is not, leading to lethal hypoxia

Question 27

What is unique about lightning strike MCI management?

Answer 27

VSAs should be prioritized

This is known as “reverse triage”

Question 28

True or false:

Radiation burns can be distinguished from thermal burns in a prehospital setting

Answer 28

False

Question 29

What are circumferential burns?

Answer 29

Large portions of burned tissue wrapping around a part of the body leading to compression due to eschar tissue