1. STOP the burning - remove hot clothing/put out flames
2. COOL the burn - run under cool running water for 20 mins
3. keep patient WARM - risk of hypothermia
4. COVER the burn - cover with loose strips of cling film or non-adherent dressings
1 of 19
What should you never do when irrigating burns?
Use ice or ice water
2 of 19
What if the burn is in a difficult position to run under water?
use cold wet towel/gauze
3 of 19
Why should cling film never be wrapped around a burn?
swelling may occur, and you don't want to constrict blood flow
4 of 19
Describe the Rule of Nines
divides body's surface area into multiples of nine to allow for a quick estimation of size of the burn
5 of 19
Describe the Palmer Method
for smaller burns, the patient's palm and fingers, with fingers closed together, equates roughly to 1% of total surface area burnt
6 of 19
Which reliable chart is used in hospitals to assess burns?
the Lunder and Browder chart
7 of 19
What are the 4 burn depths?
1. Erythema
2. Partial thickness
3. Deep thermal
4. Full thickness
8 of 19
Describe erythema burns
Affects epidermis only
No blisters
Rapid blanching
Painful
9 of 19
Describe partial thickness burns
Affects layers of dermis
Blisters present
Wound bed pink/red/speckled/mottled
Sensitive to air and temperature
Very painful
10 of 19
Describe deep thermal burns
Affects layers deep into dermis
Wound bed cherry red/pale white
Dry appearance
Reduced capillary refill time - no blanching
reduced sensation - only sensitive to deep pressure
11 of 19
Describe full thickness burns
Affects all layers of skin
wound bed white/black/waxy/leathery
usually painless
12 of 19
How do you treat chemical burns?
1. Remove chemical agent - use PPE
2. Irrigate - if in eyes, use a sterile isotonic solution
3. access national poisons information
13 of 19
Can you irrigate an electrical burn with water?
Yes, after electrical source has been controlled
14 of 19
How do you treat cold burns (frostbite)?
1. prioritise life-threatening conditions, such as hypothermia
2. rewarm rapidly and continually in circulating water at 37-39 degrees for at least 30 mins
15 of 19
When is rewarming complete?
Injured tissues have regained sensations, feel soft and pliable to touch, with a red-purple appearance
16 of 19
What should you avoid when treating cold burns (frostbite)?
Dry heat
Pressure
Rubbing/massaging area
17 of 19
If a patient is <15% burnt, what will they need?
IV fluid resuscitation
18 of 19
What is the Parkland formula for giving IV fluids?
2-4mL crystalloids x kg x %TBSA (over 24h)
19 of 19
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What should you never do when irrigating burns?
Back
Use ice or ice water
Card 3
Front
What if the burn is in a difficult position to run under water?
Back
Card 4
Front
Why should cling film never be wrapped around a burn?
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