((If inhalation injury signs โ singed nasal hairs, hoarse voice, soot around nares โ are not identified and documented within the first 3 minutes, the patient's voice becomes markedly hoarser, RR increases to 26, and SpO2 drops to 88% on room air. Patient states: 'My throat feels like it's closing up.'))
((If high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask is not applied promptly, SpO2 remains at 91% or drops further to 88%. Patient becomes more anxious and confused โ GCS drops to 13 (E3V4M6).))
((If cooling is not continued for a minimum of 20 minutes total from time of burn โ accounting for the 5 minutes already done by bystanders โ patient's pain score remains at 8/10 and the facilitator informs trainees that partial-thickness areas are at increased risk of progression to full-thickness injury.))
((If the painless full-thickness area on the dorsum of the right hand is not identified and specifically documented, the facilitator prompts: 'You notice the patient says her right hand doesn't hurt at all โ what does this tell you about the depth of the burn here?'))
((If the patient is not protected from further heat loss โ she is shivering and wet from bystander water cooling โ the facilitator states her temperature has dropped to 35.4ยฐC and shivering has increased. Ask trainees: 'What is your priority now โ continuing to cool the burns or preventing hypothermia?'))
((If jewellery โ patient is wearing a silver ring on right hand and a bracelet on right wrist โ is not removed before oedema develops, the facilitator reminds trainees: 'The patient's hand is beginning to swell โ what have you forgotten?'))
((If trainees attempt to apply a circumferential bandage tightly around the right hand or forearm, the facilitator notes: 'Oedema is developing โ how will a tight bandage affect distal circulation?'))
This patient is suffering from mixed partial-thickness and full-thickness burns to the right forearm, hand and lower face (~9% TBSA), with suspected inhalation injury evidenced by singed nasal hairs, soot around nares, hoarse voice, and tachypnoea with reduced SpO2 on room air.
- Ensure scene safety โ confirm gas burner has been isolated by event staff before approaching patient
- Don appropriate PPE including gloves
- Perform Primary Survey: airway assessment with specific attention to inhalation injury indicators โ singed nasal hairs, soot around nares, hoarse voice, tachypnoea
- Identify and document inhalation injury indicators: singed nasal hairs bilaterally, soot around nares, hoarse voice, SpO2 91% on room air, RR 22
- Apply oxygen via non-rebreather mask (NRB) at 10โ15 litres per minute โ target SpO2 94โ98%
- Note: carbon monoxide inhalation may produce falsely normal SpO2 readings โ maintain high-flow oxygen regardless of SpO2 improvement
- Continue cooling of burn areas with cool running water (approximately 15ยฐC) for a minimum of 20 minutes total โ account for 5 minutes of bystander cooling already performed, therefore continue for at least 15 minutes further
- Remove ring from right hand and bracelet from right wrist before oedema develops โ document jewellery removed
- Remove wet or charred clothing from right arm โ do NOT remove anything adhered to the wound
- Perform full burn assessment using Rule of 9s: right forearm ~4.5%, right hand ~2.5%, chin/lower face ~2% โ total estimated ~9% TBSA
- Identify mixed burn depth: blistered moist areas = partial-thickness; pale waxy insensate area on dorsum of right hand = full-thickness
- Document that the insensate area on the dorsum of the right hand represents full-thickness burn injury
- After cooling is complete, apply damp sterile dressings to burn areas
- Administer Methoxyflurane (Penthrox) 3mL via inhaler device for pain โ patient self-administers with guidance โ indication: moderate-to-severe pain (8/10)
- Prevent hypothermia: cover non-burned areas with dry blanket โ do NOT cover burned areas until dressings applied; balance cooling requirement against hypothermia risk especially given patient is elderly and already shivering
- Perform Vital Sign Survey: GCS, SpO2, RR, HR, BP, BGL, temperature, pain score, CRT
- Perform Secondary/CNS Survey
- Record full observations โ initial then every 10 minutes (or 5 minutes given airway compromise risk)
- Monitor closely for signs of progressive airway compromise: increasing hoarseness, stridor, drooling, worsening SpO2, decreasing GCS
- Recognise that inhalation injury and elderly age place patient at high risk of rapid airway deterioration โ early notification of receiving facility is essential
- Arrange Priority 1 transport to Tertiary Burns Centre โ Perth: Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) for adult patient aged 75 years
- Pre-notify receiving facility with IMISTAMBO handover including: suspected inhalation injury, mixed partial- and full-thickness burns ~9% TBSA, hoarse voice, SpO2 on NRB, age and weight
- Consider direct transfer to Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) given: airway burns suspected, burns to face, ~9% TBSA adult (above 15% threshold for IV fluid indication but IV fluid is outside EHS scope โ ensure early handover for fluid resuscitation)
- Scenario ends on arrival of ambulance and IMISTAMBO handover
- Attention to hand hygiene will be given throughout the scenario.
Clinical references: Burn Trauma ยท Dyspnoea & Respiratory Distress ยท Oxygen Delivery ยท Penthrox Inhaler Administration ยท Primary Survey ยท Secondary & CNS Survey ยท Pain Assessment ยท Minor Wound Management ยท Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Inhalation