How to Estimate the Extent of Burns of the Skin

To determine the extent of a burn, the depth of the burn and the body surface area burned must be known. The body surface area can be estimated using a formula, the rule of nines, and the depth of the burn can be estimated by examining the characteristics of the burned flesh.

Instructions

Estimating the Extent of Burns of the Skin

• 1

  Determine which body parts are burned. The hands, feet, face and groin are considered more extensive burns than other body parts even if the burns are not very deep. These burns require immediate specialized care at a burn center and make the burn victim a priority over others without such burns. Each body part has a corresponding surface area percentage.

• 2

  Use the rule of nines to determine the percent of body surface area burned. The head is 9 percent; the torso is 18 percent for the front and 18 percent for the back; the arms are 9 percent each; the legs are 18 percent each, and the groin is 1 percent. The size of a person's palm is approximately equivalent to 1 percent of his or her body surface area. For example, a person with one whole leg burned and a burn on the abdomen the size of his palm has 19 percent of his body surface area burned. A person with burns on the front of the arm and front of the leg has 13.5 percent burned.

• 3

  Determine the depth of the burn by examining the burned flesh. Redness or sunburn-like burns indicate first degree burns. Blisters and peeling superficial flesh are indicators of a second degree burn. Charred, white, black or tough, leathery skin, often without pain, all indicate a third degree burn. Use the rule of nines to estimate the body surface area affected by each type of burn. High percentages of second and third degree burns may change the priority or destination of a burn victim.