Day Two’s (July 1, 2024) discussion is about burn protocols.
“On August 19, 2018,
while conducting burn operations on the Mendocino Complex, six firefighters
were forced to run from the fire after a sudden wind shift caused a significant
increase in fire behavior and cut off their escape route. During their escape,
firefighters suffered 1st and 2nd degree burns. Initially the burned
firefighters declined the need for medical transport. Upon further evaluation,
they were transported for medical treatment.“
In 2023, the NWCG Emergency Medical
Committee developed and released burn protocols to help firefighters and fire
managers better assess burn injuries and expedite evacuations. “The burn
protocols require transfer to the nearest emergency department for all moderate
and any minor burns that do not improve with basic first aid treatment.
Firefighters should not hesitate to activate the Incident Within an Incident
(IWI) process for anything more than a minor burn. Many burns will NOT need
treatment at a burn center initially but require close follow-up over days to
weeks for possible treatment at a burn center later as the wound heals.”
Once again here are some questions,
feel free to engage in the comments section or to take them to your home unit
to promote discussion:
- What are your home unit's reporting protocols
for burns and injuries?
- Do you know the location of your nearest
emergency department?
- Discuss burn sources (heat vs. chemical) and
what training and resources you have on your crew to treat burns until
transfer to definitive care is achieved.
For further resources from today’s
discussion, click here.
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