CLASSIFYING BURN SEVERITY
Burns can be classified into 3 categories: Mild, Moderate, and Critical
It may seem complicated when you seen the criteria for which burns apply to which category, but there is a somewhat easy way to remember.
Superficial Burns (1st Degree), Use the “50/50 Rule“
<50% of Body Surface Area (BSA) = Minor
>50% of BSA = Moderate
No % = Critical, except certain exceptions (See Below)
Partial Thickness Burns (2nd Degree), Use the “15/30 Rule”
<15% of BSA = Minor
Between 15% and 30% of BSA = Moderate
>30% of BSA = Critical
Full Thickness Burns (3rd Degree), Use the “2/10 Rule”
<2% of BSA = Minor
Between 2% and 10% of BSA = Moderate
>10% of BSA = Critical
EXCEPTIONS:
ALL BURNS complicated by injuries of respiratory tract, other soft tissue, and injuries of bone = CRITICAL
Partial Thickness or Fuck Thickness involving face, hands, feet, genitals, and respiratory tract = CRITICAL
Circumferential Burns (wrap completely around the body) = CRITICAL
MODERATE Burns considered CRITICAL Burns in Patients <5 or >55 years old
Children Under 5 Years Old, Use the “10/20 Rule”
ALL FULL THICKNESS BURNS = CRITICAL
Regarding Partial Thickness Burns:
<10% of BSA = Minor
Between 10% and 20% of BSA = Moderate
>20% of BSA = Critical
