Burns CPG

Question 1

What is evidence of potential airway burns?

Answer 1

• Burns to the upper neck, face or torso
• Facial or upper airway oedema
• Sooty sputum
• Burns occurred in a confined space
• Burnt facial hair (singed nasal hair, eyebrows, beard)
• respiratory distress (dyspnoea +/- wheezing and accosted tachycardia, stridor
• Hypoxia (relentless, decreases GCS, irritability, cynosis)

Question 2

If a patient has a burn injury as well as other injuries needing fluid what should be done?

Answer 2

Burn fluid is calculated only on TBSA I another injury is present then it should be given in conjunction with other fluids.

Question 3

What is a priority if someone is intubated and paralysed? why?

Answer 3

Temperature control becomes more important as they are more likely to become hypothermic.

Question 4

How long should burn cooling be undertaken?

Answer 4

For 20 minutes however should be stoped if the patient becomes hypothermic and has a temperature below 35 degrees

Question 5

What type of water is desirable for cooling burns?

Answer 5

Cold, clean running water from 5-15 degrees

Question 6

How long should chemical burns be irrigated for?

Answer 6

For as long as the pain persists while being mindful of the patient temperature.

Question 7

If there is no running water what can be done to cool the burn?

Answer 7

Immersing the burn in a bowl of cool water or using a spray bottle or cool towel on the burn

Question 8

Should a burn be elevated?

Answer 8

Where possible, during transport a burn should be elevated to help with swelling and oedema. This is particularly helpful in circumferential burns

Question 9

What dressing is applied to burns?

Answer 9

Cling wrap is applied in a longitudinal direction and not circumferentially around the burn