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Time to Severe Scald Injury in an Adult Based on the Study of Feldman et al.

Description

Feldman et al correlated the temperature of hot water to the time of full thickness scald injury. The diagram demonstrating the relationship is based on the study of Moritz and Henriques. The authors are from Children's Orthopedic Hospital and University of Washington in Seattle.


Patient selection: adult exposed to hot water

 

Outcome: exposure time in seconds required to produce full thickness skin injury

 

Parameter:

(1) temperature of water in °C

 

 

Temperature °C

Time in seconds

58.3 tp 71°C

(0.05322 * ((temp)^2)) - (7.437 * (temp)) + 262.4

52.1 to 58.3°C

(1.441 * ((temp)^2) - (168.2 * (temp)) + 4917

51.3 to 52.1

2675 - (50 * (temperature))

 

LN(time in seconds) =

= (34.58 * ((LN(temp))^2) - (294.8 * LN(temp)) + 629.2

 

The exposure time in infants and children is less. Exposure of a child to water temperature of 54°C can produce full thickness damage in 30 seconds. According to the American Burn Association water for bathing a child should be 37°C.


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