Emergency Burn Dressings

[alex104]

what type do you all use? I am setting up my "medical Bag" and am thinking about adding a few sizes of burn dressings - such as Water Jel.

any one had experience with theses?

a little back ground - I am an NREMT-B as well as a volunteer FF. I often respond in my POV - as our engine is rather old and cranky.

added on edit: would it be a good idea to carry a set of NPAs / OPAs in my bag? I have a pocket mask but do not carry O2. What about a BVM?


thanks
Alex

[Ridryder911]

Save your money...I can assure you after extinguishing the fire, and maybe one time rinse with some sterile water and then apply dry dressings. All dressings will be removed in ER or even maybe by EMS, to examine and give approximations of burn size and depth. So you dressings maybe on the patient ten to fifteen minutes.

R/r911

[alex104]

Very Valid point - and dang if i didn't order them already.

nonetheless, thanks for the input.

Alex

[lexfd5]

We carry the large burn sheets. We'll cut them down to the needed size. Works for us.

[ALSfirefighter]

For us its dry sterile dressings and burn sheets also. Check your protocols and if all else fails contact the burn unit/center that your patients would go to if there is nothing in the protocol concerning water gel. Our burn center doesn't want it, due to they feel it adds to the wound contamination.

[Wyomingmedic]

Make sure that you are aware of your local protocols. Depending on the severity of the burn, location, MD that will be taking the case, the treatment can vary. I like the water jel but many places do not and you may get in hot water (pun intended) for using it.


Plus its a great point that EMS will prob. remove it just to visualize.

[SwatMedic40]

Sterile dry is our protocol for first responders so we can estimate injury....

[BurmaShave]

Our medical director told us that the pre-packed burn treatments such as WaterJel and Burn Free were not to be used on any state licensed ambulances or Quick Response vehicles. Much like any new product, such as hemostatic gauze, they aren't approved for EMS use by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

So, before you get anything more than like curity burn gauze or a sterile sheet; check protocols and check what supplies are allowed to be used. There should be a list of approved products available from your EMS Region or District.

The burn gels, etc., are more for non regulated first aid. I wouldn't use them on a patient, but they do work great for Sunburns and 1st & 2nd degree clean burns. If the burn is smouldering, use a sealed bottle of drinking water or sterile water or saline to irrigate it. Most protocols are wet then dry; i.e. cool the burn, then apply a sterile and dry dressing. The only exception I would say is a burn that is so painful that water helps comfort the patient, then I'd use a moist dressing.

[heartrescuer]

we also use sterile dry so ER staff an proper disinfect etc ..the burn. heartrescuer