Prevention of burns: 13 years' experience in Northeastern India

Burns are noteworthy causes of morbidity and mortality in India. Community-based interventions in the forms of multi-strategic and multi-focussed preventive programs are, however, lacking. This study, undertaken in the remote corner of Northeastern India, aims at reducing the incidence of burns through focussed attention towards sensitising the community with well-structured preventive programmes. Participatory community seminars, shop floor visit to industrial locations, use of print and electronic media and lectures and demonstrations in schools were the tools used in the preventive programmes. Analysis of inpatient and outpatient records of burn-injured patients treated in the Burn Unit and a scoring system in the school education programme helped in the assessment of the impact of Burn Preventive Programs (BPPs). For convenience of assessment, a comparative analysis of the results in early (block I) and later part (block II) of the study period was made. Results showed reduction of admission and also reduction in percent total body surface area (%TBSA) burn in the majority of the patients in block II in comparison to block I. Water was used to extinguish fire in 36.1% patients in block I and 73.4% patients in block II. Water was also used to cool burn wounds by 31% patients in Block I, and by 72% patients in block II. While 80% of the patients made inappropriate topical applications on the wounds in block I, only 34.4% did so in block II. Increased awareness amongst the general population was reflected by reduction of average reporting time in hospital after injury and significant reduction of firecracker burns from 21.5% (block I) to 14.6% (block II). Similarly, improved awareness amongst the students was evident from the improved scoring by the majority of the students and reduction in burns amongst them in the later part of block II. The results indicate that BPP has made a positive impact in society.