Depth and Area of Burns

There are three methods used to determine the severity of a burn.

1. Superficial burns affect the outer layer of skin only, such as sunburn.
2. Partial Thickness burns affect the deeper layers of skin.
3. Full Thickness burns can affect all layers of skin, tissue, muscle, and bone.

Burn Area Assessment
Head and neck	9%
Each arm	9%
Front of chest	9%
Upper half of each leg	9%
Back of chest	9%
Lower half of each leg	9%
Abdomen	9%
Genitalia	1%
Lower half of back	9%

NOTE: A child and infant’s head is larger than an adult’s head in proportion to their bodies. Therefore, a child and infants head are classed as 18%.