Triaging the Burn Victims:

​

 

• Medical tents are quite flammable

• Without access to water, roll the patient to put out the fire.

• Determine who has sustained the least amount of burns. 40% of total body or more burned 50% or less of survival.

• Multiple vs. Massive casualties. With multiple casualties you would take the most wounded but with massive casualties you will take the most likely to survive. This would be a massive casualty situation.

• Beaux formula - patient's age plus % of body burned, if it equals more than 140 they are likely to survive, with access to medical treatment. 

​

Long Term Concerns:

 

 

• Pain management. The amount of pain will depend on the depth of burns in any given area. Crazy things happen when nerves start to grow back.

• Dehydration is the top concern! Water loss in tissues from burns cause body to start taking water from the blood supply causing the body to go into shock.

• Infection is also going to be a major concern. The more surface area of the body exposed without the protection of skin the bigger the chance for infection.

 

Treatment for Burns:

 

• In a modern medical setting the patient is usually painted with a topical antibiotic ointment. The typical material is Silver Silvadene but it is almost impossible for the typical prepper to stock enough and it is impossible to carry enough in a bug out situation.

• The patient is then wrapped in gauze.

• In a survival situation packing the wounds with sugar may be a viable solution that inhibits bacterial growth. The burned areas should still be wrapped and the patient should be kept in the cleanest environment possible.