Australian First Aid Practice Exam

A full thickness burn, also known as a third-degree burn, is characterized by the destruction of all layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. This type of burn can also extend to underlying structures such as muscles, tendons, and bones. Due to the complete damage to nerve endings in the affected area, full thickness burns can be insensate, meaning that the injured person may not feel pain in the burned area, even though the surrounding areas may still be sensitive.

Understanding this classification is crucial for proper first aid and treatment planning. For effective management, it's necessary to recognize that full thickness burns often require medical intervention, including potential skin grafting, as the body cannot heal such extensive damage on its own.

In contrast, options that describe other types of burn injuries, such as partial thickness burns, can be helpful for distinguishing between severities. For example, options that refer to only the outer layer, painful blisters, or superficial reddening pertain to less severe burns, such as first-degree or second-degree burns, indicating that those injuries do not represent the complete destruction of skin layers found in full thickness burns.