How to Assess a Burn Injury

Assessing the severity of a burn is an important part of determining how to treat the burn, as well as deciding whether to evacuate the victim.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look at the burn site: If the skin is red and painful but there are no blisters, chances are it's a superficial burn.

    • 2

      Look for blistering and wetness and ask about degree of pain. If blistering is present and pain is severe, the burn is probably partial-thickness.

    • 3

      Consider a full-thickness burn if the injured person reports no pain, or just a dull pain, in the center of the burned area. The skin may also look charred and grayish in color.

    • 4

      Look at the injured person's palm: The surface area of the palm represents approximately 1 percent of the person's TBSA (total body surface area).

    • 5

      Compare this area to the extent of the burn to arrive at a TBSA figure. Burns covering more than 15 percent TBSA are life-threatening, especially partial- and full-thickness burns.

    • 6

      Continue with treatment for the burn (see "How to Treat a Burn in the Wilderness").