Check the patients temperature and treat accordingly. It is often necessary to remove wet bedding, cover the patient with warm blankets, use intravenous fluid warmers and keep the surrounding environment above body temperature. The 1997 ACLS manual has specific guidelines for the treatment of hypothermia. Second and third degree burns with serious threat of functional loss or cosmetic impairment that involve face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum and major joints. Electric burns including lightning strikes.
Chemical burns with serious threat of functional or cosmetic impairment.
Inhalation injury with burn injury. Burned children should be transferred to a hospital with qualified personnel and equipment. Any burn patient with co-existing trauma in which the burn injury poses the greatest risk of morbidity or mortality. Major burn injuries can be some of the most horrifying to deal with. It is important for nurses to focus on the immediate life-threatening problems first.