Burns and burn care in Scandinavian countries

The incidence, mortality and causes of burn injury as well as organization, principles of treatment and prevention programmes in Scandinavia are reviewed. It is estimated that of a population of 22 million, approximately 85,000 patients each year seek medical advise and 5,300 are hosptialized due to burns. The home is the most dangerous place. Most injuries are preventable. The number of deaths from fire or because of burns is between 11 and 16 per year per million in Denmark, Norway and Sweden and about 20 in Finland. In Denmark the incidence of burns has decreased but the mortality has increased. Exposure treatment with or without exposure to warm air is the most common method of management but interest in early excision and grafting is increasing.