Management of the Burn Patient

(3 hours: Basic, Intermediate & Paramedic levels)

Purpose: To review all aspects of care for the burn patient, from the anatomy and physiology of the skin to treatment and transport.

Goal: To better enable the EMT to care for a burn patient

Objectives:

• To review the anatomy and physiology of the skin
• To discuss on scene hazards to the patient and the EMT
• To review methods of extinguishing a burning victim
• To review inhalation injury and respiratory care for a burn patient
• To review the definition of moderate and critical burns
• To review the causes of and care for a patient suffering from the following burns in the field: thermal burns, chemical burns, electrical burns, lightening burns and radiation injury.
• Special consideration for the pediatric burn patient
• To review Region I protocols

1. Anatomy and physiology of the skin (10 minutes)

2. Accident scene survey (10 minutes)
   1. Scene assessment
   2. Hazards to patient(s), EMT(s), and bystander(s)
   3. Mechanism of injury
   4. Best access to patient(s)

3. Moving the patient to safety (10 minutes)
   1. Review of rapid extrication techniques

4. History taking and assessing the burned patient (10 minutes)
   1. Primary survey
   2. Secondary survey

5. Respiratory Care for a burn patient (15 minutes)

6. Rule of Nines (5 minutes)
   1. Adult
   2. Pediatric

7. Degree of Burns (10 minutes)
   1. First degree burns
   2. Second degree burns
   3. Third degree burns

8. Definition of moderate and critical burns (5 minutes)

9. BLS & ALS management of thermal burns in the prehospital setting (20 minutes)

10. Special considerations in the burned infant (10 minutes)

11. BLS & ALS management of chemical burns (20 minutes)
    1. Special cases of chemical burns
       1. Alkali burns
       2. Hydrofluouric acid
       3. Sodium metals and sulfuric acid burns
       4. Hot tar burns
       5. Chemical burns of the eye

12. BLS & ALS management of electrical burns (15 minutes)

13. BLS & ALS management of lightening injuries (15 minutes)

14. Review of Parkland formula for fluid replacement (5 minutes)

15. Transporting a patient with burns (5 minutes)

16. Third spacing (5 minutes)

17. Review of Region I protocols (5 minutes)

18. Question & Answer period (5 minutes)

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