EMS World

JAN 2013

EMS World Magazine is the most authoritative source in the world for clinical and educational material designed to improve the delivery of prehospital emergency medical care.

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BURN CARE Assessment and Care SUPERFICIAL BURNS Figure 3: Full thickness burn. anterior chest and neck area. This is a critical and life threatening burn. Very serious burn injuries have been called fourth- and fifth-degree burns. These terms describe full-thickness burns that involve muscle tissue (fourth-degree) or bone (fifth-degree). They are rarely and inconsistently used in academic literature. A review of the literature indicates a gradual transition away from using degrees and toward a more descriptive terminology for burn injuries. Today superficial, partial-thickness and fullthickness are preferred to first-, secondand third-degree. For More Information Circle 22 on Reader Service Card If the initial evaluation determines a burn injury is superficial only, the patient is best managed with rest, limitation or elimination of continued exposure to the heat source, and the provision of oral hydration. While typically outside the bounds of EMS operations, personal care may include over-the-counter treatments such as ibuprofen or a topical anesthetic. Evaluate the use of OTC remedies on a case-by-case basis for each patient based on underlying history and indications/contraindications. Care should always reflect local protocol. PARTIAL- AND FULL-THICKNESS BURNS Care of patients with partial- and fullthickness burns begins with an airway/ breathing evaluation, and this should be an ongoing aspect of the continued For More Information Circle 23 on Reader Service Card EMSWORLD.com | JANUARY 2013 47

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