Consensus on the pre-hospital approach to burns patient management

Burns patients form a large group of trauma patients cared for by first-aiders, ambulance staff, nurses and doctors before reaching specialist care in hospital. Guidance for these important carers is often poor or confused and this engenders anxiety and detracts from optimal patient care. This paper outlines nine key steps in the initial management of burn patients in the pre-hospital environment based on current available evidence and a consensus of specialists all disciplines caring for burns patients. The basis of care should be that simple things should always be performed well. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.