First Aid for Burns

You called 911 to request emergency assistance for a victim burned in a fire. The victim tells you that he is in a lot of pain. His skin has many blisters and is severely swollen.   

What should you tell the 911 operator when he asks, "How bad are the burns?"

• "They are first-degree burns."
• "They are second-degree burns."
• "They are third-degree burns."

A friend calls you to ask how to perform first aid for a first-degree, caustic burn that her little brother has on his arm and shoulder.   

What's the first thing you should tell her?

• Put on gloves and/or goggles to protect herself.
• Remove the chemical from the skin and clothing.
• Move her brother away from the electrical source.
• Put pressure on the burn with a sterile dressing.

Scenario: You and your friends spent a fun day at the beach but forgot your sunscreen. Later that evening you notice blisters across your friend’s back and realize he got sunburned. How bad are the burns?

• first-degree
• second-degree
• third-degree

When treating first-, second-, or third-degree burns which depth of burn is not treated with water?

• first-degree burns
• second-degree burns
• third-degree burns

Name three items that can be used to separate an electric shock victim from the source of the electric current.

• A broom, stick, chair, or other item of dry non-conducting material like wood, plastic, or cardboard
• A metal pole, a broom, cardboard
• Your shoes (if they are rubber soled), a stick, or a chair
• A metal folding chair, a plastic pipe, or a stick

What are the three types of burns?

• First, second, and fifth degree
• Heat, chemical, and lightening
• Heat, chemical, and electrical
• Steam, chemical, and electrical

What is the most painful type of burn?

• First-degree burns, because the outer skin is so sensitive
• Third-degree burns, because they are the most severe
• Second-degree burns, because nerve endings are still intact even though tissue damage is severe
• All types of burns are excruciatingly painful

What variables affect the seriousness of a chemical burn?

• The length of time the chemical is in contact with the skin; the concentration (or strength) of the chemical; the temperature of the product containing the chemical
• The place on the body the burn happens; the temperature of the product
• The exposure of the chemical on the skin and the ambient temperature of the surrounding air
• How long the chemical is on the skin and the temperature of the water used to rinse the chemical

Why do you only treat dry chemical burns with water if a large amount of water is available?

• Small amounts of water can cause more burning.
• You do not treat chemical burns with water.
• You must flush the area for no more than 5 minutes.

What title should be on this poster for preventing burns?

• Prevention of 1st Degree Burns

• Prevention of 2nd Degree Burns

• revention of 3rd Degree Burns

• Prevention of Electrical Burns

• Prevention of Chemical Burns