On the DD Form 1380 the percentage of coverage on the casualty’s body will need to be documented. The Rule of Nines will help with the estimation. The graphic here shows the approximation for each area of the body:

Eleven areas each have 9% body surface area (head, arms, front and back of legs, and front and back of the torso having two 9% areas each).

General guidelines are that the size of the palm of the hand represents approximately 1% of the burned area. When estimating, it is easiest to round up to the nearest 10. If half of the front or rear area is burned, the area would be half of the area value.

For example, if half of the front upper leg or front lower leg is burned, it would be half of 9%, or 4.5%. If half of the front torso is burned, say either the upper or lower part of the front torso, then it would be half of 18%, or 9%. Remember, the higher the percentage burned, the higher the chance for hypothermia.