Introduction

The transportation of the thermally injured patient may be divided into primary transport, i.e. that between the site of injury and the receiving hospital, and secondary transport, i.e. between the receiving hospital and the specialist burn unit. The necessary level of expertise and the equipment required are different in the two situations. It must never be assumed that burns will be the only injury present.

Primary transportation

The initial call

The initial call will reveal the location, the number of injuries, the cause and type of injuries, the approximate time of the incident, the type of environment the incident occurred in, and the identity of the person reporting the incident. This information will aid in decisions regarding the personnel, vehicles, equipment and protective clothing that must be sent. If indicated, other services must be informed at this stage.

Arrival on scene

Vehicles must be parked where they are out of danger and not blocking essential access or exits. The priority is to communicate with the emergency services on scene, and establish who is in charge. Introduce yourself, listen to their report of the situation, and together decide a plan of action. Safety of the team is paramount. Seek expert advice on the safety of buildings, natural hazards, explosion risks, or the spread of fire and smoke. At all times, maintain communication between ambulance control and the receiving hospital.

Assess first who is injured, then the severity of injury. The number of casualties must be ascertained and a formal triage performed. Delegate tasks to others as appropriate. Each patient then must be assessed in more detail once triage has been undertaken.