What happens to the skin when exposed to high temperatures in a fire?

The correct response highlights the various stages of skin damage when it is exposed to high temperatures in a fire. Initially, as the skin encounters extreme heat, it may redden due to increased blood flow to the affected area, a typical physiological response to injury. As the temperature continues to rise, more severe damage occurs.

Blisters can develop as the layers of skin separate due to the heat and the accumulation of fluid beneath the epidermis. This is a protective response of the body, signifying second-degree burns where the damage penetrates deeper than the top layer of skin. Following this, the skin may split as the thermal damage escalates, further exposing underlying tissues and causing significant pain and risk of infection.

In more extreme cases, if the temperatures are sufficiently high and prolonged, the skin can char, leading to a blackened appearance caused by the destruction of tissues. This sequence illustrates the progression of burn injuries, emphasizing that high temperatures have a progressively worsening impact on skin integrity, clearly aligning with the description provided in the answer choice.