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The degrees and
severity of burns
Burns
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Diseases & Conditions
A-Z |
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Dr. Edward F.Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN
According to statistics, approximately 2.4 million people receive burn
injuries in the United States, every year. Burns come from a variety of
causes including car fires, home fires, chemical burns and on-the-job
accidents.
How badly the burn is depends on the depth of the burn. Burn depth may
be best understood by examining how the skin is made up. The top layer
of skin is on the surface and called the epidermis. This is
followed by the second layer, called the
dermis.
The dermis is where the blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat
glands, and nerve endings are located. Underneath the dermis is the
third layer that has in it the blood vessels and nerves going to the
skin.
The wound is classified according to the depth of the burn. There are
primarily three classifications: first degree, second degree, and third
degree. First degree, or superficial, burns involve only the epidermis.
A second degree and third degree, or partial or full thickness burn,
involve the epidermis and dermis, and the hair, nerves and sweat glands
(and sometimes muscle and bone). The severity of the burn depends on
several factors: your age, previous health, where the burn is, how big
the burn is, and how deep the burn is.
First Degree Burns
A
first degree burn is a minor burn involving only the top layer of skin.
A sunburn is an example of a first degree burn. This type of burn is red
and hot, but there is no swelling or blistering.
Second Degree Burns
A second degree burn involves the top layer of skin as well as part
of the layers underneath. The skin is a light red and blistery, somewhat
swollen and moist and oozing. The pain is very severe.
Third Degree Burns
A
third degree burn involves all the layers of the skin. The burn will
destroy the nerves and the blood vessels in the skin. There is very
little pain at first. The burn area is white, yellow, black or cherry
red. The skin will be dry and leathery. As the burns heal there will be
dense scarring and possible skin grafting.
Fourth Degree Burns
A fourth degree burn goes through all the layers of the skin and
down into the muscle and the bone. It looks like a third degree burn and
does great harm to the body structure. Since the nerves are burnt there
is little pain in this burn.
Percentage of the Body Burned
When considering how severe a burn may be, there are many factors
involved in deciding the severity. Here is a list of common factors that
must be realized to consider the severity of a burn injury:
The
depth of the burn and size
The
part of the body burned
The
age of the individual
Past
medical history
The
percentage of the body burned is determined by using a burn chart.
Causes of Burn Injuries
Burn
injuries are commonly related to on-the-job accidents, car accidents,
home fires, electrocution, thermal burns and chemical burns. Burn
injuries can result from a variety of different activities and sources.
Whether at home or on the job you can be exposed to unknowing dangers.
Electrical Burns
These burns come from exposure to high voltage electricity. The burns
result from electric current flowing through the body. When the
electricity leaves the body it will leave a severe exit wound.
Basically, because the person touches the electrical source, the
electricity will enter in through the hand and then flow through the
body. One danger is that high voltage will cause the heart to stop
beating.
Flammable Clothing
Flammable clothing is immensely dangerous because the fire will spread
through the clothing and create severe burns all over the body. In order
to prevent this risk, clothing sold in the U.S. must comply with the
Flammable Fabrics Act.
Heat
Burns
Heat
burns occur when the skin comes in contact with a hot surface.
Heat burns are the most common type of burns and they result from
exposure to or contact with steam, flames, flash, and hot surfaces or
hot liquids with a temperature above 115º F. Examples of heat burns are
exposure to cooking stoves, hot water, and clothes irons.
Automobile fires
Automobile fires are very common. They can be caused by gas explosions
that shoot debris with great force. Car parts can become shrapnel in the
explosion.
Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are caused by contact with acids or strong bases
(alkaloids). Strong chemicals are used in laboratories, batteries and
plumbing. Very strong chemicals will dissolve skin on contact and are
difficult to wash away. It is essential to wash chemicals out as soon as
possible after exposure.
Home
Fires
Home
fires are the most common causes of fire death. Home fire deaths are
most commonly caused by careless use of cigarettes (30-45%) followed by
heating and electrical equipment malfunction. Children playing with
matches or cigarette lighters cause approximately two percent of
fatalities. Studies show impairment due to alcohol consumption to be the
strongest independent risk factor for death after outbreak of fire.
Getting a burn is not fun and very painful, depending of course on the
severity of the burn. If you are exposed to a source of fire or heat
that causes a burn or burns on your body, you need to seek treatment
immediately. What type of treatment? Read on to find out.
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