Canadian Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder Practice Exam – Study Guide & Prep

In assessing burns using the "Rule of Nines," each body part is assigned a percentage of the total body surface area for estimating the extent of burns. In infants and young children, the proportions differ from those used for adults.

For a baby, the entire left leg typically accounts for a greater percentage of total body surface area compared to adults. In this context, a baby’s leg represents about 14% of the total body surface area. This percentage arises from the fact that the child's body proportion is different, with a larger head relative to body size. Thus, when assessing burns covering the entire left leg of a baby, it is appropriate to estimate the affected area as covering 14% of the body, aligning with the established guidelines for pediatric burn assessment.

The other percentages would not accurately represent the extensive burn area specific to the anatomy of a baby, reaffirming why 14% is the correct estimation for a burn covering the entire left leg in this scenario.