Emergency management of pediatric burns.

Burn-related injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Burn injuries rank third among injury-related deaths in children aged 1 to 9 years. In 2001, there were more than 181,000 fireand burn-related injuries, more than 4200 hospitalizations, and 672 deaths in children aged 0 to 19 years in the United States. Pediatric patients and the elderly have the highest morbidity and mortality associated with burn injuries. A majority of these children are initially seen in emergency departments (EDs) around the country; therefore, it is necessary that all emergency professionals are proficient in burn management in the pediatric population. Many burns are the result of unintentional events, and others are the result of nonaccidental trauma. However, most burns are preventable. As a primary care provider in the ED, it is necessary to have the knowledge and skills not only to treat burns, but to also counsel families regarding burn prevention and to identify burns resulting from child abuse.