A 1 year study of burn injuries in a British Emergency Department.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the number of patients attending an Emergency Department with burns and to establish the epidemiology, management and outcome of these cases.


METHODS
A retrospective study of all patients attending an Emergency Department with a diagnosis of "burn" during 2004.


RESULTS
Seven hundred and eighty-five patients presented with a diagnosis of burns, accounting for 1% of all attendances. Fifty-three percent of patients were male and most were young adults of working age. Scalds and flame injuries were the most common causes of injury. Only 30% of patients performed adequate first aid. The majority of burns were small and did not require admission to hospital. Assessment and documentation by the Emergency Department staff was found to be generally poor and this may reflect a lack of experience in managing burns.


CONCLUSIONS
Burns remain a relatively uncommon presenting complaint in the Emergency Department, even in a hospital accepting tertiary referrals. Most injuries are minor and are managed within the department. This study suggests that there is a role for better education of less experienced staff in the management of burns. There remains a need for public education in the prevention and first aid of burns.
Chipp
Elizabeth
E
University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust, Raddlebarn Road, Birmingham B29 6JD, UK. elizabeth_chipp@hotmail.com
Walton
Jules
J
Gorman
David F
DF
Moiemen
Naiem S
NS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005392:First Aid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult