Administration of Burns First Aid Treatment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in community settings

This paper investigates Burn First Aid Treatment (BFAT) provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia at the scene of injury using data from a population-based cohort study.

The participants were 208 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged < 16 years who sustained a burns injury between 2015-2018, and their carers. The primary outcome measure was gold standard BFAT, (defined as at least 20 min of cool, running water within 3 h of the injury); additional measures included type of first aid, length of first aid provided, and carer's knowledge of first aid.

Of the 208 caregivers, 168 provided open-ended responses that indicated first aid was applied to their child; however, only 34 received gold standard BFAT at the scene of the injury, 110 did not receive correct BFAT, and 24 were unsure what first aid was applied.

This study highlights an important need for communities to have access to appropriate evidence-based and co-designed BFAT education and training.