Initial Assessment, Resuscitation, Wound Evaluation, and Early Care

The initial assessment and management of a burn patient begins with prehospital care. There is a great need for efficient and accurate assessment, transportation, and emergency care for these patients in order to improve their overall outcome. Once the initial evaluation has been completed, the transportation to the appropriate care facility is of outmost importance. At this juncture, it is imperative that the patient is transported to facility with the capacity to provide care for the thermally injured patient; however, at times patients would need to be transported to the nearest care facility for stabilization (i.e., airway control, establishment of IV access).