Acute Management

Please see the Burns - Acute Management Clinical Practice Guideline for best practice advice regarding acute paediatric burn injuries. Additional information can also be found in the Burns - Post Acute Care and Dressings Clinical Practice Guideline.

Burns dressings

Before dressing, gently debride blisters and non-viable tissue. Consider appropriate procedural pain management prior to commencing.
Dress the burns with a silver dressing (ideally Acticoat 7 layered dressing).
Ensure family are aware to keep all dressings dry and intact until next review.

Acticoat Layered Dressing

Video demonstration of how to apply a layered Acticoat dressing

- Mepitel (omit this step if not available)
- Acticoat 7 - Wet with water not saline (Acticoat - 3 day product may be used if Acticoat 7 not available)
- Intrasite Conformable (Wet gauze may be used as alternative if Intrasite not available or impregnate gauze with Intrasite gel)
- Cling Film (Tegaderm may be used as occlusive layer)
- Cut dressing to size - Cling Film should not exceed the borders of the Acticoat dressing
- Hypafix
- Secondary securement (eg: Tubigrip/crepe bandage)

Mepilex Ag
Can be used if no access to Acticoat
Secure with Hypafix
Not for deep dermal or full thickness burns.

Face Burns

Video demonstration of face dressings and face cares

Avoid silver dressings near eyes.
Dressings can be placed to areas of forehead or cheek/jaw.

For undressed areas use paraffin (chlorsig if mucky)
Ensure families are aware to continue face cares at home

• Cleanse area with warm water and soft cloth
  
• Spread a thin layer of paraffin over affected areas
  
• Ensure previous layer of paraffin is cleaned away before applying again

Hand Burns

Video demonstration of positioning for hand burns

Nutrition

See Nutrition Guidelines for admission of a burns patient