Citation

Frear CC, Griffin B, Watt K, Kimble R. Health Promot. J. Austr. 2018; 29(2): 160-166.

Affiliation

Centre for Children's Burns & Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, 4101, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Australian Health Promotion Association, Publisher CAIRO Publishing)

DOI

10.1002/hpja.184

PMID

29972718

Abstract

ISSUE ADDRESSED: The recommended first-aid for burns, consisting of 20 minutes of cool running water (CRW) delivered within three hours of injury, offers a simple yet effective means of improving health outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine patient and injury characteristics associated with inadequate CRW therapy among children with thermal burns, with the goal of identifying populations at greatest risk of undertreatment.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on children treated at a large tertiary paediatric burns centre. First-aid was evaluated as either "adequate" or "inadequate", and then descriptive analyses were conducted to examine differences between the groups in age, ethnicity, location, and socioeconomic status, among others.

RESULTS: From 2013 to 2016, the families of 2,522 patients were interviewed. Overall, 31.3% of children received adequate CRW at the scene of injury. Provision of adequate CRW did not significantly differ with sex, ethnicity, or nationality. Factors that were associated with inadequate first-aid included very young age and early adolescence (p<0.001), rural or remote location (p=0.045), low socioeconomic status (p=0.030), radiant heat and flame burns (p<0.001), as well as burns occurring at recreational sites, on farm/trade/industrial properties, and in the street (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Although most burns occur in close proximity to sources of CRW, first-aid was poor across all demographics. The highest levels of undertreatment were found in children aged 0-2, adolescents aged 15-16, those living rurally or remotely, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. SO WHAT?: The study highlights the need for improved public education of burns first-aid. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en