Burn injuries pose a significant burden to the NHS with 250,000 patients presenting annually to primary care teams and a further 175,000 presenting to A&E (National Burn Care Review, 2001). The large majority of these patients are managed in the community by healthcare professionals who may have limited experience or lack formal training in burn management. The purpose of this article is to highlight key principles in managing burns in the community from the provision of first aid to rehabilitation, as well as guidelines for referral to a specialist burns unit.
