Plate 2 gives the time temperature relations for both children
and adult 2nd and 3rd degree burns, given in tabular and graphical form. The importance in
scanning this presentation is to note that the graphs are plotted on semilog paper.
This shows how the time to burn increases exponentially with increasing hot water
temperatures. Look at 3rd degree burns for adults. Shows 3rd degree injuries occur in
about 1 second at 160F, 5 seconds at 140F, 9 minutes at 120, 6.7 hours
at 110.
The morbidity rate is given in Plate 1 as a function of
percent of burn area and age, The chance for fatality is given in percent, and note the
drastic and exponential decrease in chance of survival as a function of increasing age and
increasing extent of TBS (total body surface) burn percentage.
This graphical presentation is based on the work of Martin and Richardson, the original
work of Hendriques and Moritz in the late 1940's, and other sources.
Burns
