ABLS 2026 Advanced Burn Life
Support Course Manual Full Exam
with correct answers in bold and
rationale graded A+ new!!
Section 1: Initial Assessment and Triage (Questions
1–25)
1. The first priority in the initial assessment of any burn patient, according to
ABLS protocols, is:
A) Assessing burn depth
B) Airway management with cervical spine protection
C) Calculating TBSA burned
D) Starting fluid resuscitation
Answer: B) Airway management with cervical spine protection
Rationale: The ABCDE approach is the priority for burn patients, as it is for any
trauma patient. Airway maintenance with cervical spine protection is the first priority
because airway compromise can be rapidly fatal, especially in patients at risk for
inhalation injury or associated trauma. Burns can be visually distracting, but the
wound itself is not the immediate priority -3-4 .
2. Which of the following is an early sign of inhalation injury in a patient with a
burn sustained in an enclosed space fire?
A) Blistering of the oral mucosa
B) Singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum, and hoarseness
C) Mild erythema of the forearm
D) Superficial burn on the abdomen
Answer: B) Singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum, and hoarseness
,Rationale: The triad of singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum, and
hoarseness/stridor is pathognomonic for smoke inhalation injury. These patients are
at very high risk for upper airway edema and require early elective intubation -4 .
3. Using the Rule of Nines, what percentage of TBSA is assigned to the anterior
trunk of an adult?
A) 9%
B) 12%
C) 18%
D) 27%
Answer: C) 18%
Rationale: The adult Rule of Nines assigns 18% to the anterior trunk, 18% to the
posterior trunk, 18% to each leg, 9% to each arm, 9% to the head, and 1% to the
perineum -3-4 .
4. A 70-kg man sustained 30% TBSA flame burns. Using the Parkland formula,
what is the total fluid volume to be given in the first 8 hours after burn?
A) 2,100 mL
B) 4,200 mL
C) 6,400 mL
D) 8,400 mL
Answer: B) 4,200 mL
Rationale: The Parkland formula is 4 mL × body weight (kg) × % TBSA burned =
total volume in 24 hours. Half is given in the first 8 hours. Calculation: 4 × 70 × 30 =
8,400 mL total; half = 4,200 mL in first 8 hours -3 .
5. Which of the following is the most reliable guide for adequate fluid
resuscitation during the first 24 hours after a major burn?
A) Mean arterial pressure > 65 mmHg
B) Heart rate < 100 beats/min
C) Urine output 0.5 mL/kg/hour
,D) Central venous pressure 8–12 mmHg
Answer: C) Urine output 0.5 mL/kg/hour
Rationale: Urine output is the standard endpoint for fluid resuscitation in burn
patients. For adults, the target is 0.5 mL/kg/hour. In children, the target is 1.0
mL/kg/hour -3-4 .
6. According to the American Burn Association, which of the following patients
should be treated in a specialized burn center?
A) Any patient with a first-degree burn over 5% TBSA
B) Partial-thickness burns > 10% TBSA
C) A burn caused by hot tap water in an adult
D) A 2% TBSA superficial burn to the arm
Answer: B) Partial-thickness burns > 10% TBSA
Rationale: ABA referral criteria include partial-thickness burns > 10% TBSA, burns
involving face, hands, feet, genitalia, or major joints, full-thickness burns in any age
group, electrical and chemical burns, inhalation injury, and burns with concomitant
trauma -4-6 .
7. The “E” in the primary survey (ABCDE) for burn patients represents:
A) Exposure and Environmental Control
B) Evaluation of burn wounds
C) Escharotomy evaluation
D) Emergency evacuation
Answer: A) Exposure and Environmental Control
Rationale: The “E” represents Exposure and Environmental Control. During this step,
all clothing and jewelry are removed while preventing hypothermia. Estimating burn
size and depth also occurs during this phase -6 .
8. Which of the following is NOT a course objective of the ABLS Provider
Course?
A) Manage the airway and support ventilation
, B) Initiate and monitor fluid resuscitation
C) Perform definitive burn wound grafting
D) Determine which patients should be transferred to a burn center
Answer: C) Perform definitive burn wound grafting
Rationale: ABLS focuses on the first 24 hours post-injury, covering assessment,
stabilization, airway management, fluid resuscitation, and transfer decisions.
Definitive wound grafting is performed by burn specialists at burn centers and is
beyond the scope of ABLS -6 .
9. How many continuing education credit hours are typically awarded for the
ABLS Provider Course?
A) 3.5 hours
B) 5.0 hours
C) 7.0 hours
D) 10.0 hours
Answer: C) 7.0 hours
Rationale: The ABLS Provider Course typically awards 7.0 continuing education
credit hours for physicians, nurses, and prehospital providers -1-6 .
10. Which healthcare professionals are eligible to take the ABLS Provider
Course?
A) Only physicians and nurses
B) Only prehospital providers
C) Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, EMTs, firefighters, and paramedics
D) Only burn center staff
Answer: C) Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, EMTs, firefighters, and
paramedics
Rationale: The ABLS course is designed for physicians, physician assistants, nurses,
EMTs, firefighters, and paramedics who may need to perform initial triage,
assessment, and management of patients with burn injuries -6 .
Support Course Manual Full Exam
with correct answers in bold and
rationale graded A+ new!!
Section 1: Initial Assessment and Triage (Questions
1–25)
1. The first priority in the initial assessment of any burn patient, according to
ABLS protocols, is:
A) Assessing burn depth
B) Airway management with cervical spine protection
C) Calculating TBSA burned
D) Starting fluid resuscitation
Answer: B) Airway management with cervical spine protection
Rationale: The ABCDE approach is the priority for burn patients, as it is for any
trauma patient. Airway maintenance with cervical spine protection is the first priority
because airway compromise can be rapidly fatal, especially in patients at risk for
inhalation injury or associated trauma. Burns can be visually distracting, but the
wound itself is not the immediate priority -3-4 .
2. Which of the following is an early sign of inhalation injury in a patient with a
burn sustained in an enclosed space fire?
A) Blistering of the oral mucosa
B) Singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum, and hoarseness
C) Mild erythema of the forearm
D) Superficial burn on the abdomen
Answer: B) Singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum, and hoarseness
,Rationale: The triad of singed nasal hairs, carbonaceous sputum, and
hoarseness/stridor is pathognomonic for smoke inhalation injury. These patients are
at very high risk for upper airway edema and require early elective intubation -4 .
3. Using the Rule of Nines, what percentage of TBSA is assigned to the anterior
trunk of an adult?
A) 9%
B) 12%
C) 18%
D) 27%
Answer: C) 18%
Rationale: The adult Rule of Nines assigns 18% to the anterior trunk, 18% to the
posterior trunk, 18% to each leg, 9% to each arm, 9% to the head, and 1% to the
perineum -3-4 .
4. A 70-kg man sustained 30% TBSA flame burns. Using the Parkland formula,
what is the total fluid volume to be given in the first 8 hours after burn?
A) 2,100 mL
B) 4,200 mL
C) 6,400 mL
D) 8,400 mL
Answer: B) 4,200 mL
Rationale: The Parkland formula is 4 mL × body weight (kg) × % TBSA burned =
total volume in 24 hours. Half is given in the first 8 hours. Calculation: 4 × 70 × 30 =
8,400 mL total; half = 4,200 mL in first 8 hours -3 .
5. Which of the following is the most reliable guide for adequate fluid
resuscitation during the first 24 hours after a major burn?
A) Mean arterial pressure > 65 mmHg
B) Heart rate < 100 beats/min
C) Urine output 0.5 mL/kg/hour
,D) Central venous pressure 8–12 mmHg
Answer: C) Urine output 0.5 mL/kg/hour
Rationale: Urine output is the standard endpoint for fluid resuscitation in burn
patients. For adults, the target is 0.5 mL/kg/hour. In children, the target is 1.0
mL/kg/hour -3-4 .
6. According to the American Burn Association, which of the following patients
should be treated in a specialized burn center?
A) Any patient with a first-degree burn over 5% TBSA
B) Partial-thickness burns > 10% TBSA
C) A burn caused by hot tap water in an adult
D) A 2% TBSA superficial burn to the arm
Answer: B) Partial-thickness burns > 10% TBSA
Rationale: ABA referral criteria include partial-thickness burns > 10% TBSA, burns
involving face, hands, feet, genitalia, or major joints, full-thickness burns in any age
group, electrical and chemical burns, inhalation injury, and burns with concomitant
trauma -4-6 .
7. The “E” in the primary survey (ABCDE) for burn patients represents:
A) Exposure and Environmental Control
B) Evaluation of burn wounds
C) Escharotomy evaluation
D) Emergency evacuation
Answer: A) Exposure and Environmental Control
Rationale: The “E” represents Exposure and Environmental Control. During this step,
all clothing and jewelry are removed while preventing hypothermia. Estimating burn
size and depth also occurs during this phase -6 .
8. Which of the following is NOT a course objective of the ABLS Provider
Course?
A) Manage the airway and support ventilation
, B) Initiate and monitor fluid resuscitation
C) Perform definitive burn wound grafting
D) Determine which patients should be transferred to a burn center
Answer: C) Perform definitive burn wound grafting
Rationale: ABLS focuses on the first 24 hours post-injury, covering assessment,
stabilization, airway management, fluid resuscitation, and transfer decisions.
Definitive wound grafting is performed by burn specialists at burn centers and is
beyond the scope of ABLS -6 .
9. How many continuing education credit hours are typically awarded for the
ABLS Provider Course?
A) 3.5 hours
B) 5.0 hours
C) 7.0 hours
D) 10.0 hours
Answer: C) 7.0 hours
Rationale: The ABLS Provider Course typically awards 7.0 continuing education
credit hours for physicians, nurses, and prehospital providers -1-6 .
10. Which healthcare professionals are eligible to take the ABLS Provider
Course?
A) Only physicians and nurses
B) Only prehospital providers
C) Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, EMTs, firefighters, and paramedics
D) Only burn center staff
Answer: C) Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, EMTs, firefighters, and
paramedics
Rationale: The ABLS course is designed for physicians, physician assistants, nurses,
EMTs, firefighters, and paramedics who may need to perform initial triage,
assessment, and management of patients with burn injuries -6 .
