The rule of nines is a standardized method used to quickly assess how much body surface area (BSA) has been burned on a patient. This rule is only applied to partial thickness (2nd degree) and full thickness (3rd degree) burns. The diagram below depicts BSA percentages for adults and infants of one year or less. For children over the age of one year, please see the formula below.
Burns are classified as superficial (1st degree), partial thickness (2nd degree) or full thickness (3rd degree) depending on the depth of the injury. For the most part, burns can be quickly classified during the initial assessment or primary survey and a more detailed evaluation can be conducted during the focused history and physical examination.
A seizure is a sudden change in brain function due to a massive electrical discharge in a group of nerve cells. The increased electrical activity will typically cause an altered level of consciousness and various changes in behavior, such as convulsions, automatisms, or a blank stare.
The table below outlines the most common causes of abdominal pain that EMT’s and Paramedics encounter in the field. It also specifies which abdominal quadrants and areas of the body might be painful to the patient. If you would like to make a correction or suggestion, please contact us.
There are three different types of abdominal pain: visceral pain, parietal pain and referred pain. The type of pain varies depending on the organ involved.