Burns are injuries to tissues caused by what?

• A. Heat contact
• B. Cold exposure
• C. Friction
• D. Chemical exposure

Answer: (A)

Burns are tissue injuries caused by energy transfer that damages cells. The most common cause is heat contact—hot liquids, steam, or objects transferring thermal energy to the skin, leading to protein denaturation and cell death. Cold exposure causes frostbite, which is a different type of injury, not a burn. Friction produces mechanical damage and heat as a byproduct but isn’t the classic mechanism of a burn. Chemical exposure can cause chemical burns, but those are categorized separately from thermal burns. In this general sense, heat contact best fits the definition of a burn.