How can the size of a burn be estimated?

Estimating the size of a burn using the patient's palm and fingers is an effective and practical method in emergency medicine. This technique utilizes the patient's own anatomy as a reference point. The palm of an adult is approximately 1% of the body's total surface area. Therefore, by noting how many palms worth of surface area the burn covers, medical professionals can assess the extent of the burn injury relative to the patient's body size. This is particularly useful in acute situations when other assessment methods might not be feasible.

For example, if a burn covers two palms, then approximately 2% of the body surface area is affected. This method is simple and can be applied quickly, making it invaluable in emergency scenarios where rapid triage is essential for patient management and treatment planning.