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alot to answer.......
- wet if less than 5% Total body surface area (TBSA), dry if larger. Wet will bring down the patient's temperature then hypothermia is an issue.
- antibiotic ointment is perfect
- I always carry my 'anti-inflammatory cocktail' when out in austire conditions as well as in my swat gear: a) antiinflammatories aspirin and ibuprofen, b) strong multivitamin like centrum or the like with high vit A,C,E, c) antihistamine (H-1), preferably non-sedating as well as an H2 blocker like pepcid or zantac.
Notice, no oral or IV antibiotics, burns generally don't need them in the field.
All of these act on the bodies ability to rev up the inflammatory cascade which I don't want rev'ed up. I give them for a burn, a GSW, crushed limb, etc. This cocktail will attack pain on several fronts and the bodies general reaction to a major/moderate insult from the burn. I use the same thing in the hospital on patients....it does work.
ss
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'Revel in action, translate perceptions into instant judgements, and these into actions that are irrevocable, monumentous and dreadful - all this with lightning speed, in conditions of great stress and in an environment of high tension:what is expected of "us" is the impossible, yet we deliver just that.
(adapted from: Sherwin B. Nuland, MD, surgeon and author: The Wisdom of the Body, 1997 )
Education is the anti-ignorance we all need to better treat our patients. ss, 2008.
The blade is so sharp that the incision is perfect. They don't realize they've been cut until they're out of the fight: A Surgeon Warrior. I use a knife to defend life and to save it. ss (aka traumadoc)
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