Paramedic Kardex

The is a quick reference ONLY to the Policies and Guidelines set by OCEMSA.
All specific Treatment Guidelines questions should be directed to the OCEMSA Website.
Burn Criteria
Base Contact required for destination
BURN CARE / TREATMENT:
< 10% BSA: cool with saline soaks
> 10% BSA: cool with saline soaks 10 min. max, cover with dry dressing,
cover w/ blanket
MEDICATIONS:
- Albuterol for wheezing or bronchospasm
- Morphine for pain
- Fentanyl for pain
Triage to Burn Center (UCI or OC Global):
- MOI
- Suspected inhalation injury (burned in small confined space, facial burns, hoarseness, dyspnea, soot in mouth, carbonaceous sputum, singed nasal hairs)
- High voltage/electric burns (including lightning injury)
- Chemical burns
- Burns involving face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, major joints
- Circumferential burns
- Major pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, renal failure, cardiac or pulmonary disease)
- 2nd or 3rd Degree burns > 10% BSA in any age group
SPECIAL NOTES:
- Estimating burn surface %: Patient’s palm size = 1% burn
- Chemical burns: Brush away any remaining dry chemical, irrigate burn wound and surrounding skin with copious and continuous water/saline to dilute and mechanically remove as much residual chemical as possible.
NOTE:
- Some chemicals are activated by water/fluids and might worsen burn or create hazardous fumes (e.g. sodium phosphorus, acetyl bromide, aluminum carbide, silicon tetrachloride).

