i//Last Updated: 08/29/2014
//file: safety-burns

This information was given to me by a nurse in the mid 1990's.
I'm pretty sure there may be newer information.  If you are a
nurse/Doctor/etc. please feel free to email me newer information at
multicsfan@hotmail.com.


BURNS, DEPTH MEASUREMENT

First and second-degree burns are partial-thickness burns, and
third-degree burns are full-thickness burns.  But determining burn depth
can be difficult because most burns aren't solely partial-thickness or
full-thickness; they are a mixture of both.  Also, skin thickness varies
according to age and body area.

Burn depth is also difficult to assess right away.  With electric burns,
for example, the patient may show only minimal external tissue damage,
but they may have considerable internal damage along nerve and vascular
pathways.

The electric current makes an entrance and an exit wound just like
a gunshot.  At first you may see only two small burns on the palm of
the hand.  But 10 days later, the person's whole arm may be necrotic.
(necrotic is dead tissue and will slough off.) (May require skin graft)

In fact, final determination of burn depth usually can't be made until
several days after a severe burn, but that shouldn't delay a decision
to transfer a patient to a burn center.  In both the young child and
elderly person, many burns that at first appear to be partial-thickness
are full-thickness.

FIRST DEGREE BURNS

The first-degree burn is the most superficial, involving only the
epidermis (outer-most layer of skin).  Common causes are sun exposure or
very brief contact with intense heat following flash explosions.  (hehe)
The main characteristic is erythema (redness).  Pain occurs because
nerve endings are injured and exposed.  Because the deeper layers of
the dermis aren't destroyed, regeneration takes place without scarring.
(I know you are aware that the nipple is jammin' with nerve endings-take
this into careful consideration).

Healing takes place within a week by a scaling process. During this time,
the person experiences itching because of increased vascularization
(blood flow is increased to the area in order for healing to occur:
white cells are delivered to fight infection, and cellular waste is
carried away), destroyed sebaceous glands (oil glands provide moisture)
and increased perspiration.

Make sure her tetanus shot is up to date.