Burns: Causes and Emergency Care

Keep in mind that there may be other associated traumatic injuries with burn patients. It’s important to manage the burn but that may be secondary to more pressing needs of the patient. Airway compromise – especially with thermal burns – is one real possibility. Scan the body for obvious fractures and uncontrolled bleeding. Check for circumferential burns around the arms and/or legs, especially deeper partial thickness and full thickness. If present, compartment syndrome may develop. Immobilize the limb(s) and check them frequently, reassessing distal pulse, sensation, and movement. Note any progressive deterioration and radio your findings as early as possible. If a deeper burn is circumferential to the chest/thorax, it likely will compromise the patient’s ability to ventilate. This will require aggressive airway and ventilatory measures until the patient can be delivered to the hospital.

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