Authors: Jonathan Matthews, Rajan Atwal / Editors: Paramjeet Deol, Shashank Patil, Jorge Leon-Villapalos, Chris Gray, Lauren Taylor / Reviewer: Chris Gray, Joshua Davison / Code: / Published: 11/02/2021 / Reviewed: 15/01/2026
This module covers burns assessment and management in the Emergency Department (ED).
After completing this session you will be able to:
Guidance on which blisters to de-roof and how to do it by the London and South East of England Burn Network (LSEBN) can be found here.
- Be able to recognise the impact of burns injuries in the Emergency Department
- Be aware of the classification of burns injuries
- Be able to assess the depth and size of a burn
- Understand risk stratification in major burns patients
- Be aware of key assessment, management points and investigations in the patient with severe burns.
- Be aware of the common pitfalls in burns injury management
References
- Stewart BT. Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of burn injuries. UpToDate, updated in 2025.
- NHS commissioning board: Specialised Burn Care (All Ages), Service specification D06/S/a, 2013
- Hettiaratchy S, Dziewulski P. Pathophysiology and types of burns. BMJ 2004; 328 :1427.
- Orgill DP. Assessment and classification of burn injury, UpToDate, Updated in 2024.
- Hettiaratchy S, Dziewulski P. ABC of burns. Introduction. BMJ. 2004 Jun 5;328(7452):1366-8.
- Sheridan R. Cutaneous burns Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. In: BMJ Best Practice. 15 Apr 2025 [cited 2026 Jan 12].
- BattalogluE, GreasleyL, LeonVillapalosJ, YoungA, PorterK. Management of Burns in PreHospital Trauma Care. Faculty of PreHospital Care & British Burn Association. 2019.
- Lee JH, et al. Airway Obstruction after Laryngeal Burn Induced by Swallowing Hot Food. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg. 2015 Sep;58(9):634-636.
- London and South East Burns Network. Initial Management of Severe Burns, 2020. London(UK): London and South East Burn Network;10 Feb 2025 [cited 2026 Jan 12].
- Stander et al The emergency management and treatment of Severe burns Emergency medicine International 2011; 2011: 161375.
- Hettiarachy et al Initial management of burns II assessment and resuscitation BMJ 2004 Jul 10; 329(7457): 101103.
- British Burn Association: European practice guidelines for Burn Care Based by the Copenhagen EBA meeting, September 2002.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Burns and scalds. Clinical Knowledge Summaries, NICE, 2023.
- Borrows E, Randle E, Chigaru L. Burns Management. Clinical guidelines. Childrens Acute Transport Service (CATS). NHS; 2022.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Mersey Burns for calculating fluid resuscitation volume when managing burns. [MIB58] NICE, 2016.
- Public Health England. Tetanus: the green book, chapter 30, 2013. Last updated 2025.
- Dollery W. Cardiac monitoring not needed in household electrical injury if the patient is asymptomatic and has a normal ECG. BestBETs, 2003.
- London and South EastBurn Network. Making a Burns Referral. London(UK): London and South East Burn Network;10 Feb 2025 [cited 2026 Jan 12].
- Health New Zealand. Escharotomy Guidelines. National Burn Service Resources. [cited 2026 Jan 12].
- Riphagen S, et al. Paediatric Critical Care: Early management of burns. Version 5.0. South Thames Retrieval Service (STRS) at Evelina London.14 May 2025.
- Dien S, et al. The evidence – based topical therapies for management of minor burns in outpatient clinic. Journal of General-Procedural Dermatology & Venereology Indonesia. 2015;1(1):9-19.