What Do You Know About Burns? Burns can occur anytime of year, but the summertime can hold special hazards. That's because many of us are outdoors doing yard work, grilling, or boating. Learn more about burns by taking the following quiz. 1. Which of these facts is true about burns? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is To prevent scalds from hot water, check your water heater setting to see that it is set at 120°F (48.8°C). This is the advised temperature. At that temperature, it takes 5 minutes for a serious burn to occur, according to the American Burn Association (ABA). At higher temperatures, burns occur more quickly. At 140°F (60°C), for instance, it takes only 5 seconds for a serious burn to occur. And at 160°F (71.1°C) to 180°F (82.2°C)--the temperature at which coffee and tea are served--the burn can be immediate. Babies, young children, and older adults are more vulnerable to burns because their skin is thinner. A. You can prevent burns by setting your water heater at 120 degrees B. Burns are the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 5 C. Babies and young children are more vulnerable to scald injuries D. A and C 2. What are the main causes of death among people who at first survive a severe burn? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Your skin protects your body from infection, keeps your body temperature stable, and prevents fluid loss. Your body is highly vulnerable when the skin is injured or lost. A. FeverB. Bacterial infectionsC. Severe dehydrationD. B and C 3. Who is at highest risk for burns? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Men are twice as likely to be burned as women. In part, this is because men more often work with flammable substances like gasoline. Most gasoline-related burns and deaths occur in males under age 45. And most of these accidents occur in the summer months, when people are outdoors doing yard work, farming, or boating. A. Men B. Women C. Children D. All of the above 4. Burns are classified by degrees from first to third. Which of these describes a third-degree burn? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is A first-degree burn is also called a superficial burn. It can be painful, but it causes only minor skin damage. It often heals in 3 to 5 days, and leaves no scar. Skin with a first-degree burn is dry with no blisters. Sunburn or a minor scald is an example of a first-degree burn. A second-degree burn is also called a partial thickness burn. This burn is more painful. It damages but does not destroy the top two layers of skin. It heals in 10 to 21 days. The skin is moist, wet, and weepy, with blisters. It is swollen and bright pink to cherry red in color. A third-degree burn is also called a full thickness burn. This burn is the most severe. It destroys all 3 layers of skin. It can harm fat, muscle, and bone. A burn that affects the bone is sometimes called a 4th-degree burn. Skin grafts are required to treat a full thickness burn. A person with a third-degree burn can't feel anything in the burned area because the nerves are destroyed. A. Burned area is larger than 5 inches acrossB. Burned area is on the faceC. Burned area covers 10% of the bodyD. Burn extends through all the skin layers and tissue 5. You should get medical help right away if a second-degree (partial thickness) burn is larger than 3 inches in diameter, or if the burn is on certain areas of the body. Which parts of the body can be critical? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is A person with a partial thickness burn to the hands, feet, head, groin area, or major joint needs to be treated at a burn center. This type of burn puts the person at great risk for other problems. A. HandsB. FeetC. Any major jointD. All of the above 6. Electrical burns can be caused by household current, certain batteries, and lightning. What should be done first after a person has an electrical burn? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Find the source of the current and shut it off. Or remove it by using a material that won't conduct electricity, such as wood, plastic, or cardboard. A. Put ice on the area of contactB. Cover the burned area with a blanketC. Be sure the person is not in contact with the electrical sourceD. None of the above 7. In the case of a chemical burn to the skin, how should the affected area be treated? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is The best way to flush the area is with a garden hose, but you can also use a shower or a faucet. But don’t use water if the chemical is dry lime or contains a metal such as sodium, potassium, magnesium. Water can react with these to cause more harm. Chemical burns can be caused by household cleaners, lawn and garden products, fresh cement, or other chemicals. A. Wash the area with soapB. Flush the area for at least 20 minutes with cool, running waterC. Apply an ointment or butterD. Cool the area with ice 8. How should the eye be treated if a chemical splashes into it? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is It's important to get the chemical out of the eye as soon as possible. Start rinsing the eye right away and call 911. Keep flushing the eye until medical help arrives. A. Let the eye tear to wash the chemical out B. Cover the eye with a loose, moist dressing C. Use milk to flush the eye D. Flush the eye with clean drinking water 9. Which is a common cause of a gasoline burn? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Never use gasoline as a cleaning fluid or solvent, according to the ABA. Never store it indoors. Never use it indoors or near heat or flame. When storing gasoline, use an approved safety container. When you refill the container, set the container on concrete or asphalt. Don't set it in a vehicle or in the bed of a pickup truck. This is because those objects can have static electricity. A static spark can ignite the gasoline fumes. A. Starting a fire with gasoline B. Allowing gasoline fumes to come in contact with an open flame C. Priming a carburetor D. Repairing a boat with a gasoline-powered motor E. All of the above Your score was: