Chapter 11-14 Flashcards
(47 cards)
Burns occur in every age group and in a
variety of settings
Skin death and injury occur as heat exceeds
the body’s ability to disperse it
Damage depends on:
Intensity of heat
Duration of contact
Thickness of skin
THERMAL
Flames
Hot objects
Flammable vapor
Steam
Hot liquids
CHEMICAL
Caused by a wide range of chemicals
Acids
Alkalis
Organic compounds
ELECTRICAL
Caused by contact with electric current
Injury depends on:
Type of current
Voltage
Area exposed
Duration of contact
To evaluating a thermal burn you must
determine:
1. Depth of burn
2. Extent of burn
3. Body parts
4. Respiratory involvement
5. Severity of burn
Depth of Burn
First-degree (superficial)
Redness, mild swelling,
tenderness, pain
Second-degree (partial-thickness)
Blisters, swelling, weeping of
fluids, severe pain
Third-degree (full-thickness)
Leathery , waxy, or pearly grey
skin that can be charred
Extent of the Burn
Estimate how much body surface area (BSA)
the burn covers
The rule of nines
The rule of the hand
A hand represents about 1% of a person’s total
body surface
Which Body Parts are Burned
Burns on the face, hands, feet and genitals are
most severe
Circumferential (goes around toe, finger, arm,
leg, neck, or chest) burns are more severe than
noncircumferential burns because of possible
constriction to function
Respiratory Involvement
Superheated air can be absorbed
by the upper respiratory tract
Signs: Burns around nose, mouth,
breathing difficulty,
coughing/wheezing, soot, swollen
nostrils or throat
Swelling occurs in 2 to 24 hours
Restricts or shuts off airway
Also Determine…
Whether other injuries exist
Preexisting medical problems
If the person is older than 55
years
If the person is younger than 5
years
First Degree (Superficial) Burns
What to Look For?
Redness
Mild swelling
Tenderness
Pain
What to Do?
Give ibuprofen
Elevate arm or leg
Have the person drink water
Apply aloe vera or other lotion
Second-Degree (Partial Thickness) Burns
Small Second-Degree
What to Look For?
Blisters
Swelling
Weeping of fluids
Severe pain
What to Do?
Follow the first three steps for first-degree
burns
Apply antibacterial ointment
Cover with a loose, dry, nonstick, sterile
dressing
Large Second-Degree
What to Do?
Follow the first three steps for first-degree
burns
Apply cold
Monitor for hypothermia
Call 9-1-1
Third-Degree (Full Thickness) Burns
What to Look For?
Dry, leathery, gray colored, or charred skin
What to Do?
Cover burn with a dry, nonstick sterile
dressing
Call 9-1-1
Scald Burns
The result of contact with hot liquids
Immersion burns: area of the body is fully
immersed in a hot liquid
Spill burns: liquid spills, drops, or is thrown on
a person
Sunburns
The skin’s response to the trauma of ultraviolet radiation
* Can result in first- or second-degree burns
Care for Sunburns:
* Apply cool compress for up to 45 minutes
* Take cool showers and baths
* Do not use benzocaine
* Use ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation
* Drink a lot of water
* Use aloe vera or another body lotion
Aftercare:
* Apply antibiotic ointment to a second-degree sunburn
* If blisters break, gently wash twice daily
* Seek medical care if eyes are affected or if infection
occurs
Chemical Burns
Result of an acid or an alkali substance touching the skin
** Chemicals burn as long as they are in contact with skin.Chemicals burn as long as they are in contact with skin.
** Check the safety data sheet, if availableCheck the safety data sheet, if available
Chemical Burns
What to Look For?
Pain
Burning
Breathing difficulty
Eye pain or vision change
What to Do?
Brush dry chemical off skin
Flush burn with large amounts
of water for at least 20 minutes
or until EMS arrives
Call 9-1-1
For chemical in eye:
Tip head so affected eye is
below nose
Wash eye with warm water
from nose out to side of face
for at least 20 minutes
Electrical
Burns
- Thermal burn (flame)
- Arc burn (flash)
- True electrical injury (contact)
Contact with Outdoor Power Line
Power must be turned off
A tingling sensation signals that you
are on energized ground
Raise one foot off ground, turn
around, and hop to safe area
Do not attempt to move any wires
Contact Inside Buildings
Turn off electricity
Unplug appliance
Do not touch appliance or
person until current is off
Damage occurs under
skin
Electrical Burns Cont’d
What to Look For?
Burn wound, which might
appear small
Entrance and exit wounds
Multiple burns
Absent breathing/pulse
What to Do?
Check breathing
Call 9-1-1
Check for broken bones
Treat the person for shock
Cover wounds with sterile
dressings
HEAD INJURIES
Head injuries include:
Scalp wounds
Skull fractures
Brain injuries
Spinal injuries can also be present in people with a head injury
SCALP WOUNDS
May bleed profusely due to a
large number of blood vessels in
the scalp.
* However this would not
affect blood supply to the
brain.
* Be mindful of other potential
injuries such as a concussion,
skull fracture, brain or spinal
injury, etc.
* Call 911 if:
* The wound is extensive
* There is significant facial
damage
Apply direct pressure with
a dry, sterile dressing to
control the bleeding
Apply pressure around the
edges of the wound to
control bleeding from a
suspected skull fracture
Skull Fracture
Break or crack in the
cranium
Two types of skull fractures:
1. Open (with an accompanying
scalp laceration)
2. Closed (without an an
accompanying scalp
laceration) Make a donut for skull fracture-related bleeding and to
surround an eye for protection when a short object is
embedded in an eye
1. Using the cravat bandage or strip of cloth, wrap
about half the length into a circle large enough to
surround the injured area
2. Pass the tail through the hole repeatedly to form a
circle
3. The completed dressing should have a hole large
enough to surround the injury
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Injury to the brain can cause most short and
long term problems
The brain is struck causing it to bounce against
the skull
Swelling in the brain interferes with brain function
Any swelling or accumulation of blood in the skull
compresses the brain and increases pressure
Nerve cells of the brain/spinal cord are unable to
regenerate
When they die, they are lost forever and cannot be
replaced
Brain injuries can be caused by:
− A penetrating foreign object
− Bony fragments from a skull fracture
− The brain striking the inside of the skull
Deceleration injury: person’s head hits a
stationary object
Acceleration injury: person has been hit by a
moving object
TYPES OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
Concussions (mild traumatic brain injury
(MTBI))
Contusion
Direct blow to head can bruise brain
Coup-contrecoup
Impact of blow causes contusion at site of impact
and on opposite side of head
Diffuse axonal
Shaking or strong rotation of head causing tearing
injury (ex. Shaken baby syndrome)
Penetration
Bullet, knife, or other sharp object enters the brain
causing contamination from hair, skin, skull, and
pieces of penetrating object. These may not be
retrievable.
Different Types of Critical Traumatic
Brain Injuries
CONCUSSIONS
Suspect a
Concussion
High-speed activities
Sports or rec activities
Falls
Suspected child maltreatment
Exposure to blasts
Injuries to external parts of head and/or scalp
SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSION OR MTBI
Thinking/
Remembering Physical
Emotional/
Mood Sleep
Difficulty thinking clearly Headache
Fuzzy or blurry vision
Irritability Sleeping more than usual
Feeling slowed down Nausea or vomiting
(early on)
Dizziness
Sadness Sleep less than usual
Difficulty concentrating Sensitivity to noise or light
Balance problems
More emotional Trouble falling asleep
Difficulty remembering new
information
Feeling tired, having no
energy
Nervousness or anxiety
EYE INJURIES
Eyes are easily damaged by trauma
Blow to the Eye..
A direct blow or a flying object that lands against
the eye or pierces it can potentially cause a severe
injury
Partial/complete vision loss is especially high if
there is leakage or fluids coming from the eye
Examination by an ophthalmologist or other
physician should occur as soon as possible after
injury
