NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamTraumaMedium
A 4-year-old child presents with a full-thickness (third-degree) burn to his entire left leg. Using the Rule of Nines, what percentage of the child's body surface area (BSA) is burned?
- A9%
- B27%
- C13.5%
- D18%
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 13.5%
For a child, each leg is estimated as 13.5% of the total body surface area (BSA) using the pediatric Rule of Nines.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 9% represents an entire arm for a child or adult, or the head/neck for an adult.
- B. 27% is not a standard single segment value in the Rule of Nines.
- D. 18% represents the entire head/neck for a child, or the anterior/posterior trunk for a child/adult, or an entire leg for an adult.
Rule of Nines (Pediatric Leg)
The specific percentage assigned to a child's leg when estimating total body surface area (BSA) burned using the Rule of Nines, which is 13.5% for each leg.
- Children's heads are proportionally larger, legs smaller than adults.
- Each leg = 13.5% BSA in children.
- Used for rapid estimation in emergency settings.
Memory trick: Kids Burn: Head's Big, Legs Small, Nines for All!