Burns and How Eschar Would Appear on a Lund-Browde - Essay Example

Burns and how eschar would appear on a Lund-Browde Burns on human skin varies in terms of the degree of their depth and the surface area involved. The burns can range from superficial to partial thickness or full thickness burns. Superficial burns, also called 1st degree burns, are limited to epidermis damage, and may not affect the inner part of the dermis. They may appear pink or red and may be swollen. The skin surface may have blisters or may be moist. The skin burn becomes painful when touched. They are mainly caused by exposure to hot water (Herlihy, 2014, 103). 1st degree burn Partial-thickness – they can be divided into superficial and deep partial thickness burns. It falls under the 2nd degree burn. The former case involves the destruction of the epidermis and partial damage on the dermis. The later involves the damage on the epidermis and dermis, including the skin structures like sebaceous glands and sweat glands. They are mainly caused exposure to hot liquids or they cab as a result of exposure to flame. Deep partial thickness burns may also be caused by electricity. The skin burns appears pink or red, are swollen and blanch when on touch. They are also very painful to touch and may be blistered (Levy and Harcke, 2010, 117). 2nd degree burn Full thickness burns are also called 3rd degree burns. They involves the destruction of epidermis and the dermis skin layer, including nerve supply, vascular tissues and accessory tissues like sweat glands. They are usually caused by prolonged exposure to scalding liquids like hot liquid, steam and flame. Electricity and chemical exposure may also be responsible for this type of burns. They may appear red, pale, or brown in colour (Levy and Harcke, 2010, 117). A thick layer of Eschar is formed, and may not be painful. The healing process for the skin may be influenced by other factors such as the past history, thickness and the depth of the burns, other injuries and the region of the body affected (Trainex Corporation, 1981). 3rd degree burn Lund –Browder chart is used to estimate the total body surface area affected also known as TBSA. It is used to estimate partial and full thickness burns. The body is divided into sections depending on the age of the patient. Eschar is a firm necrotic layer in the skin which has been burn deeply. It can be identified on the Lund –Browder chart by circumferential thickness burns on the chest thighs or other parts of the body. There may be constrictions on the burned area (Dayicioglu, 2012, 150). The significances of Eschar may vary depending on the conditions involves. In some cases it can help to reduce infections as it provides a protective layer. It can also provide protection against mechanical abrasions, thus helping the wound to heal faster. The state of the wound can be known by examining the condition of eschar. On the other hand, infections can occur beneath the eschar, and can only be remedied by removing the eschar. Swelling on the wound environs can cause pain due to increase in pressure. Eschar can also constrict thus increasing pressure. It also reduces ventilation (Mahoney, 2011, 499; Bledsoe, 2004, 684). An introduction to fire modelling Fire modeling is important tools used in the assessment of fire scenarios, estimating the full scale performance and in the development of the performance objectives. It is basically used to characterize hazards related to fire and to design measures used to reduce the loss of life as a result of fire event. Different models can be applied in predicting the fire behavior and risk assessment. The two general types of models used as fire models include field models and zone models. Zone models In zone models the building compartments are subdivided into zones or control volumes whose physical quantities are uniform. These models predict fire behavior within the compartment by solving differential equations for the conservation of momentum, mass and energy in each zone (Jones et al., 1995). A compartment is usually divided into two distinct layers; the lower cold gas layer and the upper hot layer. The layers have the same concentrations of gases and smoke fumes (Shen et al., 2005). Main assumptions of Zone models It is assumed that the lower volume layer is cool and the upper layer is hot. It is assumed that the zone has the same concentration of gases, uniform smoke temperature It is also assumed that fire behavior is similar to physical or real fires for example smoke movement is derived from experimental observations or real life fires (Shen et al., 2005). Advantages of zone modeling This model has low memory requirements It provides detailed model of a real fire situation It can be used to represent large structures It provides a simple technique for modeling problem as it uses differential equations which worked out easily (Shen et al., 2005; Karlsson & Quintiere 1999). Disadvantages of zone modeling The model makes errors in case of strong ventilation, fire source, or complex geometry because of its too simplified conditions. It can only give the overall picture without finer details (Karlsson & Quintiere 1999). Data input and analysis may require an expert to perform. (Shen et al., 2005) Examples of Field Models Zone fire model can include like CFAST, ASET and Harvard code fire models (Janssens, 2000, 9). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or field models is divided into large number computational cells which can be in millions. Finite techniques approach is used to solve the right quantities in each cell. The model can solve complex solutions for conservation of momentum, energy and mass at discrete points in space and time within the elements using the first principle method. Fire dynamics simulator (FDS) fall in the same category with CFD (Yeoh & Yuen, 2009, 29). Assumptions of CFD Models It is assumed that fire behavior is similar to physical or real fires for example smoke movement is derived from experimental observations or real life fires thus the first principle method is used to solve the conservation of momentum, energy and mass at discrete points in space and time within the elements (Yeoh & Yuen, 2009, 29). Advantage of Field Models It provides more detailed representation of fire model than zone model It require less assumption than zone models, thus reducing errors It easy to add new phenomena in the model (Janssens, 2000, 8) Disadvantages Field Models It requires large memory unlike zone models It requires extensive interpretation It requires long setup time It requires intensive computation and can be used only when more fluid details is needed It may require the use of smaller sub-grid models like turbulence models in case the grid resolution is large which increase the work done (Janssens, 2000, 8; Shen et al., 2005). References Bledsoe, B. E., Porter, R. S., & Cherry, R. A. (2004). Intermediate emergency care: Principles & practice. Upper Saddle River: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Dayicioglu, D. (2012). Plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery: the essentials. Singapore: World Scientific. Herlihy B., (2014). The Human Body in Health and Illness, Elsevier Health Sciences Janssens M. L. (2000). Introduction to Mathematical Fire Modeling, Second Edition, Volume 1 of An Introduction to Mathematical Fire Modeling, Marc L. Janssens, Publisher CRC Press Jones, W. W., Forney, G. P., Building and Fire Research Laboratory (U.S.), & United States. (1992). Modeling smoke movement through compartmented structures. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building and Fire Research Laboratory. Karlsson B., & Quintiere J., (1999). Enclosure Fire Dynamics, Environmental & Energy Engineering, CRC Press Levy A.D. & Harcke H. T., (2010). Essentials of Forensic Imaging: A Text-Atlas, CRC Press, Mahoney, P. F. (2011). Ryan's ballistic trauma: A practical guide. New York: Springer. Shen, Z. Y., Li, G. Q., & Chan, S. L., International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures. (2005). Advances in steel structures: Proceedings of the fourth International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, 13-15 June 2005, Shanghai, China. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Trainex Corporation., & Medcom, inc. (1981). Emergency care of the burn wound. Garden Grove, Calif: Medcom. Yeoh, G. H., & Yuen, K. K. (2009). Computational fluid dynamics in fire engineering: Theory, modelling and practice. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann. Read More