Fingerprinting & Burns

Fingerprints ALL FINGERPRINTS ARE PERMANENT AND INDIVIDUALLY UNIQUE No two fingerprints have ever been found to be alike. No two fingerprints on the same hand have ever been found to be alike. Barring removal of finger your fingerprint will remain permanent.

Fingerprints

First-degree Burns Affect only the epidermal layer Involve reddening of the skin and mild pain Tend to heal in less than a week Treatment: Rinse with cool water for 10 minutes Ex.: sunburn

Second-Degree Burns Involve damage of the epidermal and dermal layers Blisters, fluid-filled pockets Painful and take longer to heal Treatment: Medical assistance and antibiotics

Third-degree burns Most serious type of burn( full-thickness burn) Appears greyish-white or black Initially not painful because nerve endings have been destroyed Treatment: skin grafting

Skin Grafting Healthy skin is taken from a place on your body called the donor site. The graft is carefully spread on the bare area where it is being transplanted. It is held in place either by gentle pressure from a well- padded dressing that covers it, or by staples or a few small stitches. The donor- site area is covered with a sterile dressing for 3 to 5 days.

Rule of Nines The rule of nines assesses the percentage of burn and is used to help guide treatment decisions including fluid resuscitation and becomes part of the guidelines to determine transfer to a burn unit.

Rule of Nines Clinicians use this to estimate extent of burns An adult who has been burned, the percent of the body involved can be calculated as follows: Head = 9% Chest (front) = 9% Abdomen (front) = 9% Upper/mid/low back and buttocks = 18% Each arm = 9% (front = 4.5%, back = 4.5%) Groin = 1% Each leg = 18% total (front = 9%, back = 9%) As an example, if both legs (18% x 2 = 36%), the groin (1%) and the front chest and abdomen were burned, this would involve 55% of the body.