Burns

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Burns

Alternative Names

Second degree burn; First degree burn; Third degree burn

Prevention

To help prevent burns:

Install smoke alarms in your home. Check and change batteries regularly.
Teach children about fire safety and the hazards of matches and fireworks.
Keep children from climbing on top of a stove or grabbing hot items like irons and oven doors.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that children can't grab them and they can't be accidentally knocked over.
Place fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school.
Remove electrical cords from floors and keep them out of reach.
Know about and practice fire escape routes at home, work, and school.
Set temperature of water heater at 120 degrees or less.

References

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: London: Mosby; 2002.

Townsend, Jr., CM, ed. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 17th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier; 2004.

Roberts JR, Hedges JR, eds. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2004.


Burns


Burn, blister - close-up


Burn, thermal - close-up


Airway burn


Skin


First degree burn


Second degree burn


Third degree burn


Minor burn - first aid - series

Review Date: 2/19/2008
Reviewed By: John E. Duldner, Jr., MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Akron General Medical Center and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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