Burn and Frostbite Injuries in Disaster and Earthquake Treatment

Burn injury can be defined as the tissue damage caused as a result of the effect of various factors. It is an important type of injury that should not be overlooked during earthquakes and other natural disasters. First aid and patient follow-up of burn cases are life changing. The first thing to do is to prevent furhter burning process by moving the patient away from the burning agent. The treatment and evaluation should be followed by airway, breathing, and circulation protocol before transfer to hospital. The extent, depth, and region of the burn affect the severity. The percentage of body area is calculated to determine the width. Early initiation of fluid resuscitation is very important. Burn dressings differ in varying degrees. Escharotomy, debridement, and wound care are used in surgical treatment. Although the source of damage is not heat but cold, frostbites cause similar damage to the tissues. Gradual heating and gentle debridement of the affected areas should be the first treatment. Surgical treatment should be delayed until demarcation occurs.

Cite this article as: Sirkeci CB, Demiröz A. Burn and frostbite injuries in disaster and earthquake treatment. Cerrahpaşa Med J 2023;47(S1):23-26.