Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

A thermal burn involving the epidermis characterized by redness and pain is classified as what type of burn?

1. Deep partial-thickness burn

2. Superficial burn

3. Full-thickness burn

4. Partial-thickness burn

The correct answer is: Superficial burn

A thermal burn that causes redness and pain while only affecting the epidermis is classified as a superficial burn. This type of burn is generally characterized by superficial damage to the skin, resulting in symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pain. The epidermis, being the outermost layer of skin, allows for full healing without scarring, typically within a few days. In contrast, a deep partial-thickness burn affects both the epidermis and part of the underlying dermis, leading to more severe symptoms and a longer healing process. A full-thickness burn involves complete destruction of both the epidermis and dermis, often resulting in a charred appearance and significant scarring. Partial-thickness burns can encompass a range of severity that includes deep partial-thickness burns, but the term itself does not specify the shallow nature of the injury, which is a hallmark of the superficial burn classification. Thus, the classification as a superficial burn is accurate given the described characteristics of the burn.