title: Importance of clothing removal in scalds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that prompt removal of clothing after scalds lessens the severity of injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  This experimental study and case series was carried out in the Burn Centre of a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. An experimental burn model using Allevyn (Smith & Nephew Medical Limited, Hull, England) as a skin substitute was designed to test the effect of delayed clothing removal on skin temperature using hot water and congee. Data of patients admitted with scalding by congee over a 10-year period (January 2005 to December 2014) were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction in the temperature of the skin model following a hot water scald was detected only if clothing was removed within the first 10 seconds of injury. With congee scalds, the temperature of the skin model progressively increased with further delay in clothing removal. During the study period, 35 patients were admitted with congee scalds to our unit via the emergency department. The majority were children. Definite conclusions supporting the importance of clothing removal could not be drawn due to our small sample size. Nonetheless, our data suggest that appropriate prehospital burn management can reduce patient morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prompt removal of clothing after scalding by congee may reduce post-burn morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Edgar Y K
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yvonne Y W
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003020:Clothing; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burns; First aid; Skin temperature