No one plans to be in an accident and receive burns to their body. For those that do get burned, recovery is more than physical. Often burns leave visible scars patients deal with well after their discharged from the hospital. Jackie Heinle, nurse manager of the Burn Treatment Center in University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, talks about burn prevention and awareness:
With a cold, cold winter like this one, is there an increase of burn accidents? Why?
Our busy season, actually, is from April through October, but we do see a few injuries in the winter. Most likely what happens is people use fireplaces and wood burning stoves and space heaters because of the high cost of heating and utilities. Even though wood burning stoves, fireplaces, and space heaters can be pretty, acceptable, and safe, we have to remember to keep them in good working order. During the winter there is an increased use of candles and we see some candles starting houses on fire where people get hurt.
Last month we talked to you about frostbite, why is frostbite like a burn?
A burn injury is actually defined as anything too cold or too hot that causes injury to the skin. If the skin comes in contact with temperatures (even 32 degrees), it can cause freezing of that tissue causing skin injury. We currently have three patients on the Burn Center with frostbite.
When a patient comes into the burn unit, what is the typical treatment and length of stay?
Our first priority of course is to treat the life threatening injuries that they have and then get them to the Burn Center as quickly as we can. We are a Center of Excellence. A typical day for the patient includes painful dressing changes that help promote wound healing, followed by aggressive physical therapy to get the patient back to normalcy in their life. These patients can stay here for a night or they can be here for several months.
When patients are discharged from the Burn Treatment Center are they able to resume all the activities they did prior to their burn?
That's certainly our goal and most of the time they are able to return to all their activities, such as school, work, and play. Sometimes it takes a long time for this to happen but with determination and courage, the burn victim becomes the burn survivor and really works hard to get back to their usual activities.
When we see someone who has had a significant burn why do we see scarring and maybe a deeper skin tone?
Once the skin is injured, it forms scarring and that's the natural response that happens and it often leads to disfigurement. Unfortunately, the skin pigmentation may never return to normal and causes the deeper skin tones.
How can we help a burn survivor in their recovery after they have been discharged?
Be there for them. Make every effort to support them and realize they are the same person they were before they were hurt. They just may look different due to their injury. Remember—they're survivors of a very devastating injury.
How long does it take for a patient with significant burns to fully recover?
Even though the burns heal, the burn survivor may have disabilities that can impact them for the rest of their lives. You've got to remember that your skin is very important. You've got to protect it, keep from getting injured—it could be a lifelong problem.
As the nurse manager of the Burn Treatment Center, what is your best advice you can tell us to prevent any kind of burn?
Just make good, safe decisions at all times. Don't put your family members or friends at risk. Practice burn prevention every day of your life. Make sure your smoke detectors are working; make sure you've discussed prevention with yourself, of course, with your children, with your families. And just, again, make good sound decisions. |
