Wound care

The goals of initial wound care following severe burn injury are to cool the wound, decontaminate and cover the wound quickly, and minimise heat loss. Definitive wound care will be achieved at the appropriate Burn Service. 

The gold standard for Burn First Aid is 20 minutes of cool running water which is useful for up to 3 hours following injury. Core body temperature should be monitored when cooling severe burns injuries due to the risk of hypothermia, and cooling should stop if the patient becomes hypothermic. 

Find out more about burns first aid

Wound care key steps

Clean

Clean the wounds with Aqueous Chlorhexidine 0.1% solution or Normal Saline. Decontamination should not delay transfer, and consider simply covering the burn wounds if the patient is otherwise ready for transfer. Decontamination and cleaning can be attended to at the Burn Service on arrival. 

Cover

Transfer Time is < 6hours: 

• Use Plastic Cling Wrap to cover the burn 
• Reduces evaporative heat loss and minimises wound desiccation 
• Allows apply longitudinally or like a sandwich as wrapping it around a swollen limb may have a tourniquet effect 

 If Transfer Time is > 6 hours:   

• A dressing should be considered. 
• The dressing should absorb exudate – Acticoat or Bactigras are suitable 
• Contact the Appropriate burn Service for advice as required 

Other information

• Once dressings are complete, elevate the affected limb if possible to assist in minimising burn wound oedema 
• Place the patient on a burn sheet to absorb any exudate and to allow for minimal adhesion. 
• It is important to document if the burns have been contaminated at the time of injury or during care e.g. if the patient rolled in dirt or jumped into a dam to cool the burns. The risk of potential contamination will inform ongoing Burn Service wound care.