Management of burns in the wilderness

For the practitioner working in the wilderness environment, burns represent a significant challenge. There may be a requirement for non-specialists to provide care with fewer resources than would be available in a specialist unit in the UK. In the wilderness setting, delay prior to reaching specialist care is likely to be an ever present factor. Secondary complications of the burn wound, such as respiratory problems or sepsis may therefore supervene. The paper examines certain aspects of treatment relevant to the wilderness environment, including airway injury, fluid resuscitation and local treatment of the burn wound. Escharotomy and aspects of electrical and chemical injury are also considered.