BURNS

Question 1

What percentage of burn cases result in hospitalisation annually?

Answer 1

3% (approx. 45 cases/year)

Question 2

What is the mortality rate of burns?

Answer 2

1 in 10 burn victims die from their injuries.

Question 3

Burns are the ___ leading cause of death in children aged 1–4.

Answer 3

Third.

Question 4

What percentage of burn-related deaths occur within the first 10 days?

Answer 4

50%

Question 5

What are common causes of immediate death in burns?

Answer 5

Carbon monoxide, cyanide poisoning, and asphyxiation.

Question 6

What lasting issue do most burn survivors experience?

Answer 6

Scarring.

Question 7

Define a burn.

Answer 7

Denaturing of proteins due to extreme pH or temperature.

Question 8

List the four main types of burns.

Answer 8

Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, Ionising Radiation.

Question 9

What determines the severity of a burn?

Answer 9

Duration × Intensity.

Question 10

Name four types of heat transmission.

Answer 10

Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Friction.

Question 11

Give examples of thermal burn sources.

Answer 11

Hot road, coffee, baths, dry ice, decompression gases, sun.

Question 12

What sensation is caused by UV radiation in the eyes?

Answer 12

Feels like sand in the eyes.

Question 13

What is the key trauma principle in burn assessment?

Answer 13

Never judge a patient’s trauma tolerance by your own.

Question 14

What proportion of burns are chemical?

Answer 14

5%

Question 15

Chemical burns are most often caused by ____.

Answer 15

Alkalis (2:1 vs acids)

Question 16

Why are alkali burns more dangerous?

Answer 16

They don’t stop burning, penetrate deeper (liquefaction necrosis).

Question 17

What are the three phases of alkali injury?

Answer 17

Dissolve fats (saponification), Bind proteins, Desiccation (draw out water from cells).

Question 18

Examples of alkali sources?

Answer 18

Bleach, drain/oven cleaners, plaster lime, dishwasher tablets.

Question 19

What injury pattern do acids cause?

Answer 19

Coagulation necrosis → eschar formation.

Question 20

Examples of acid sources?

Answer 20

Toilet cleaner, battery acid, hydrochloric acid, rust remover.

Question 21

Examples of biochemical burn agents?

Answer 21

Desiccants, oxidisers, protoplasmic chemicals (solid, liquid, gas).

Question 22

Are biochemical burns the same as poisoning?

Answer 22

No – require specialised treatment.

Question 23

What is the burn formula for severity in electrical injuries?

Answer 23

Volts × Amps = Watts.

Question 24

How hot can skin resistance make tissue?

Answer 24

Up to 1000°C.

Question 25

What's the difference between AC and DC current effects?

Answer 25

Both can cause severe injury; AC often causes muscle contraction.

Question 26

What is an arc flash?

Answer 26

External-to-internal flash that can split limbs.

Question 27

Entry/exit points in electrical burns follow what path?

Answer 27

Least resistance to ground.

Question 28

Key electrical burn Sx?

Answer 28

Tingling, VF, respiratory paralysis.

Question 29

Paramedic safety tip for electrical scenes?

Answer 29

Shuffle/jump – avoid having feet at different voltages.

Question 30

What signs suggest inhalation burns?

Answer 30

Soot around nose/mouth, missing nasal/facial hair.

Question 31

What are the 3 primary burn depth levels?

Answer 31

1st°: Epidermis, red, painful, no blisters; 2nd° (dermal): Blisters, sweat glands/hair follicles affected; 3rd°: Full thickness, dry, painless, deformed.

Question 32

What indicates dermal injury despite unbroken skin?

Answer 32

Blistering with underlying structure damage.

Question 33

What are the 3 zones in burn tissue?

Answer 33

Hyperaemia – recoverable; Stasis – may survive with treatment; Necrosis – irreversible.

Question 34

What is the Rule of 9s?

Answer 34

Each arm: 4.5%; Legs: 9% each; Torso: 18% front/18% back; Head: 9%; Genitals: 1%; Palm: 1% (used for spot burns).

Question 35

Why are circumferential burns dangerous?

Answer 35

Restrict swelling → cuts off blood supply → possible escharotomy needed.

Question 36

What is eschar?

Answer 36

Hard, dead tissue (like pork crackling) from deep burns.

Question 37

What % TBSA triggers systemic effects?

Answer 37

>10–15%

Question 38

Systemic complications of major burns?

Answer 38

Hypotension (vasodilation, cardiac depression, fluid loss), Renal failure (rhabdomyolysis), ARDS, Intestinal damage → sepsis, Airway oedema.

Question 39

What is the primary treatment sequence?

Answer 39

Airway/Breathing/Circulation, Pain relief, Cooling, Call for backup, Fluid resuscitation.

Question 40

Why is analgesia difficult in burn patients?

Answer 40

Burns are intensely painful and resistant to normal analgesics.

Question 41

What is the Parkland formula?

Answer 41

4 mL × kg × %TBSA ## Footnote ½ over first 8 hours; ½ over next 16 hours.

Question 42

Fluid example: 75 kg, 50% TBSA?

Answer 42

4 × 75 × 50 = 15,000 mL (15 L)

Question 43

What are the main field priorities in burn care?

Answer 43

Don’t get distracted, Monitor airway constantly, Cool burns quickly, Rapid deterioration is possible, Transport to appropriate facility.

Question 44

What causes burns?

Answer 44

Thermal (heat, cold), Ionizing radiation (e.g., sunburn), Chemical (alkali, acids, biochemical), Electrical (AC/DC currents).

Question 45

What determines burn severity?

Answer 45

Duration × Intensity = Severity.

Question 46

What are the 4 methods of heat transmission in thermal burns?

Answer 46

Conduction (metal to skin), Convection (rising hot liquids), Radiation (sun), Friction (carpet burn).

Question 47

How do alkali and acid burns differ?

Answer 47

Alkali: Liquefaction necrosis, deep, ongoing burn; Acid: Coagulation necrosis, eschar (pork crackling).

Question 48

Name examples of alkali and acid burn sources.

Answer 48

Alkali: Oven cleaner, bleach, drain cleaner; Acid: Toilet cleaner, battery acid, pool chemicals.

Question 49

Key considerations in electrical burns?

Answer 49

Voltage × Amperage = Watts (severity), Entry/exit wounds, Risk of VF, respiratory paralysis, Use jump/shuffle technique for safety.

Question 50

Describe 3 degrees of burns.

Answer 50

1st Degree: Epidermis only, red, no blisters; 2nd Degree (Dermal): Blisters, painful, may affect sweat glands/hair; 3rd Degree: Full thickness, dry, deformed, painless.

Question 51

What are the 3 burn zones?

Answer 51

Hyperaemia – inflamed, recoverable; Stasis – salvageable with treatment; Necrosis – irreversible tissue death.

Question 52

How is Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) estimated?

Answer 52

Each arm = 4.5%; Genitals = 1%; Palm = 1%; Rule of 9s used for adults.

Question 53

Why are circumferential burns dangerous?

Answer 53

Skin restricts swelling → pressure cuts off circulation; May need escharotomy; Time critical; can lead to compartment syndrome.

Question 54

What happens if >10–15% TBSA is burned?

Answer 54

Inflammatory response → hypotension, Fluid shift, dehydration, Rhabdomyolysis → renal failure, ARDS, Sepsis risk.

Question 55

What are primary burn treatment steps for paramedics?

Answer 55

Primary survey (ABCs), Pain relief, Cooling (stop the burn), Call for backup, Fluid resuscitation.

Question 56

What is the Parkland formula for fluid resuscitation?

Answer 56

4 mL × body weight (kg) × %TBSA ## Footnote Half in first 8 hrs; Half in next 16 hrs; Only for partial/full thickness burns.

Question 57

What are critical things paramedics should remember?

Answer 57

Don’t get distracted by wounds or bystanders, Rapid deterioration is possible, Airway must be constantly monitored, Burns need proper cooling and pain relief, Transport to appropriate facility.