THERMAL (BURNS) INJURY GUIDELINES

It is important to realise that a burn wound is dynamic and continues to change up to 24 hours after injury. Do not assume that all areas of the burn are equally deep. (EMSB 1996)*

Criteria for Identifying Burns Requiring Referral to a Regional Burns Unit

The British Burn Association has identified the following injuries as those requiring referral to a burn unit:

• Burns greater than 10% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) in adults
• Burns greater than 5% TBSA in children
• Burns in Special Areas - Face, Hands, Feet, Genitalia, Perinium and Major Joints
• Full thickness burns greater than 5% TBSA
• Electrical burns
• Chemical burns
• Burns with an associated inhalation injury
• Circumferential burns of the limbs or chest
• Burns at the extremes of age - children and the elderly
• Burn injury in patients with pre-existing medical disorders which complicate management, prolong recovery or effect mortality
• Any burn patient with associated trauma
• Suspected 'Non Accidental Injury' (children or elderly)

*Ref: Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB) Course Manual (1996) UK version for The British Burn Association

Contact Details

When phoning please ask for Specialist Registrar for Burns:

Regional Burns Unit at St John's Hospital (adults): 01506 419666

Royal Hospital for Sick Children (children): 0131 536 0000

Further Information

www.baps.co.uk

British Association of Plastic Surgery