title: Introducing the advanced burn life support (ABLS) course in Italy.
abstract: Systematic education based on internationally standardized programs is a well-established practice in Italy, especially in the emergency health care system. However, until recently, a specific program to treat burns was not available to guide emergency physicians, nurses, or volunteers acting as first responders. In 2010, two national faculty members, acting as ABA observers, and one Italian course coordinator, trained and certified in the United States, conducted a week-long training program which fully certified 10 Italian instructors. Authorized ABLS provider courses were conducted in Italy between 2010 and 2012, including one organized prior to the 20th annual meeting of the Italian Society of Burns (SIUst). In order to increase the effectiveness and diffusion of the course in Italy, changes were approved by the ABA to accommodate societal differences, including the translation of the manual into Italian. The ABA has also approved the creation and publication of a bilingual ABLS Italian website for the purpose of promoting the ABLS course in Italy. In response to high demand, a second ABLS Instructor course was organized in 2012 and has been attended by physicians and nurses from several Italian burn centers. In the following discourse the experiences of the first 15 Italian ABLS courses will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Area and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy; Paediatric Burn Center and Plastic Surgery, Meyer Children Hospital, Firenze, Italy; Paediatric Trauma Center, Meyer Children Hospital, Firenze, Italy. Electronic address: federicadasta@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Asta
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Homsi
authors.affiliation: University of Manchester, Medical School, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Shriners Burns Hospital-Galveston, TX, United States.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Buffalo
authors.affiliation: Burn Center and Regional Skin Bank, "Bufalini" Hospital, AUSL Cesena, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melandri
authors.affiliation: Burn Center and Regional Skin Bank, "Bufalini" Hospital, AUSL Cesena, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Burn Center and Plastic Surgery, Meyer Children Hospital, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinzauti
authors.affiliation: Burn Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Therapy-ARNAS Ospedale Civico, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masellis
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Trauma Center, Meyer Children Hospital, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bussolin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Area and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messineo
mesh_terms: D061906:Advanced Trauma Life Support Care / Q000379:methods*; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education*; D005392:First Aid; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000379:methods
keywords: ABA; ABLS; ABLS provider course; Adaptation; Advanced Trauma Life Support; American Burn Association; Burn; Burn center; Burns; Emergency; Golden hour; Italy; Participant