Thermal burns

Overview

Injury following a burn can be complex, with significant variation in both the aetiology and severity requiring prompt clinical assessment and management. As with all trauma presentations, patients who have sustained a burn injury are best managed in a systematic manner with a thorough primary and secondary survey.

Additionally, a focus on the burn injury pattern, characteristics and identification of high-risk features will help ensure optimal patient management.  Knowledge of the initial management strategies for burn injury, the use of a consistent, standardised approach in determining burns severity and depth, and recognising potential complications is critical for patient survival. 

Description

This resource kit provides healthcare workers with knowledge on how to recognise and effectively manage a patient with thermal burns to special areas.

Learning objectives

• Demonstrate an understanding of burns size estimation.
• Discuss the clinical features to suggest burn depth estimation.
• Recognise ‘special areas’ in burns management and burns referral criteria.
• Recognise differences between hot liquids for burn management.

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Further reading