Burns Renee Redman Spring 2026

Providing Patient-Centered Care for the Individual with Integumentary Disorders: Burns

Presenter Information

  • Renee Redman RN, MSN, FNP

Objectives

  • Identify types of burns
  • Discuss classification of burns related to assessment and manifestations.
  • Discuss interventions related to caring for burned patients in relation to the phases of burn care.

Introduction

Burn Statistics in the United States
  • Annually: 450,000 people seek medical care for burns.
  • Hospitalization: Approximately 40,000 patients hospitalized, with half requiring specialized burn centers.
  • Mortality: About 3,400 deaths due to burn injuries, with the highest fatality rates observed in children under 4 years old and adults over 65 years old.

Types of Burn Injury

  • Thermal: Burns caused by flame, flash, scald, or contact with hot objects.
  • Chemical: Burns resulting from contact with acids, alkalis, or organic compounds.
  • Smoke & Inhalation: Injury due to inhalation of hot air or toxic chemicals.
  • Electrical: Burns from electrical current.
  • Cold Thermal Injury: Reviewed in ED module.
  • Radiation: Reviewed in ED module.

Thermal Burns

Overview
  • Most common type of burn.
Etiology
  • Causes: Flame, flash, scald, and contact with hot objects.
Severity Factors
  • Dependent on: Temperature and duration of exposure.
Prevention Strategies
  • Never leave candles unattended.
  • Use child-resistant lighters.
  • Conduct regular home fire exit drills.
  • Avoid using gasoline or flammable liquids to start fires.
  • Never leave hot oil unattended when cooking.
  • Avoid smoking in bed; consider using flame-resistant smoking aprons.
  • Use caution with microwaving and set lower hot water temperatures.
  • Employ anti-scald devices on showerheads or faucet fixtures.
  • Supervise small children during bathing and check water temperature before immersion.

Chemical Burns

Overview
  • Result from contact with acids, alkalis, and organic compounds.
Common Household Acids and Alkalis
  • Acids: Hydrochloric, Oxalic, Hydrofluoric.
  • Alkalis: Oven cleaners, drain cleaners, fertilizers, industrial cleansers.
  • Organic Compounds: Phenols, petroleum products.
Prevention Strategies
  • Store chemicals in appropriate containers with proper labeling.
  • Ensure safety for workers handling chemicals, emphasizing protective eyewear and clothing.
  • Importance of Education: Stress the need for protective measures, highlighting that alkaline agents can cause more severe injuries than acidic ones due to tissue adhesion.
Treatment
  • Remove the individual from the chemical source.
  • Brush dry chemicals from the skin prior to irrigation.
  • Wash the affected area with saline or water continuously.
  • Remove any contaminated clothing and contact Poison Control for further assistance.

Smoke Inhalation Injury

Overview
  • Occurs from inhaling hot air or noxious chemicals damaging the respiratory tract.
Types of Smoke Inhalation Injury
  • Metabolic asphyxiation: Caused by inhalation of toxic gases (e.g., CO).
  • Upper airway injury: Injury to the mouth, throat, or larynx from hot air.
  • Lower airway injury: Damage to the trachea and bronchioles.
Importance of Rapid Assessment
  • Critical for predicting mortality in burn patients.
Metabolic Asphyxiation
  • Causing Agent: Carbon Monoxide (CO) or Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN).
  • Effects: CO displaces O2 leading to hypoxia and carboxyhemoglobinemia. Immediate treatment involves administering 100% humidified oxygen.
Upper Airway Injury
  • Caused by inhaling hot air, steam, or smoke with thermal burns to the neck.
  • **Clinical Manifest