Question

Which of the following burns are considered major burns? Check all that apply.

a burn on the face

a chemical burn on the arm

a superficial burn that covers twenty-five percent of the body

a full-thickness burn that covers five percent of the body

Answer 1

Correct answers:
- a burn on the face
- a chemical burn on the arm

Why:
- Burns involving the face are considered major because of airway risk and functional/cosmetic importance.
- Chemical burns are classified as potentially major because they often produce deep tissue injury and systemic toxicity and warrant urgent, specialized care.

Why the others are not (in a typical adult):
- A superficial (first‑degree) burn, even if 25% TBSA, is generally not classified as a major burn.
- A full‑thickness (third‑degree) burn must usually involve >10% TBSA to be called a major burn in adults; a 5% full‑thickness burn would not be major unless it involved a critical area (hands, feet, perineum, etc.) or the patient were a child (pediatric thresholds are lower).