A lesson from Beyond the Burn: Navigating Modern Burn Care

Cooling Burn Victims

In the initial acute phase, immediate removal of any hot or burned clothing, jewelry, and visible debris is imperative to prevent further injury and facilitate accurate assessment of burn extent (care should be taken by caretakers to prevent self-injury during removal). Prompt cooling of burned areas is essential, achieved through the application of cool water or saline-soaked gauze. Cooling is particularly beneficial for small to moderate-sized burns as it helps minimize the extent of injury. Numerous studies have investigated optimal cooling methods, with durations ranging from 15 minutes to three hours. Our preferred approach involves the application of saline-soaked gauzes, maintained at approximately 12°C, for 15 to 30 minutes. Cooling tissue to around 12°C (54°F) within the initial hours post-injury effectively alleviates burn-related pain; however, caution must be exercised to avoid ice and freezing, which can lead to frostbite, systemic hypothermia, and exacerbation of burn injury. Continuous monitoring of core body temperature is essential during cooling procedures, particularly for burns exceeding 10 percent of total body surface area (TBSA). It's crucial to prevent body temperature from dropping below 35°C (95°F). Warmed intravenous fluids can be administered to help maintain core body temperature.

Free lesson

This lesson is part of “Beyond the Burn: Navigating Modern Burn Care”

Lesson 10 of 17

Unlock all 17 lessons, the quiz, and 1.5 Class A credits.

See the moduleIncluded in Edition I - ISO

More free lessons from this module