Keeping up with best practice guidelines can be challenging. A good example of this are the guidelines associated with minor burns in the elderly. When an elderly care recipient is on the receiving end of a minor burn, referring them to a Burns Unit makes up part of the current recommendations issued by the Australian and New Zealand Burns Association (ANZBA).
Minor burns are not so minor
As we grow older our skin becomes thinner, we develop more health-related complications, and the ability for our bodies to heal wounds becomes slower. The result of this is a much higher death rate from burns compared with younger adults, which highlights the importance of all burns and scalds being taken seriously in an aged care environment and referred to a Burns Unit when required.
The Australian and New Zealand Burns Association has a wide guideline policy surrounding referral criteria, with a particular focus on anyone under the age of 5 or over the age of 65 years old. The reason for this is due to the inability of people in these two age groups to cope and manage thermal injuries and burns effectively. If they are poorly nourished with less protein stores or have other illnesses (e.g. heart disease or diabetes), these factors will significantly increase the risks associated with managing a burn injury.
Some burns that do not initially meet the criteria for referral may still need consultation with a Burns Unit if the wound takes longer than 10 days to heal. Burns that take longer than 14 days to heal may scar, and any burn that takes longer than 21 days to heal is very likely to scar. Burns Units not only look after acute burn injuries, but also provide management of scarring when needed.
Burns Units are always available for consultation, and if necessary photographs of the burn area can be sent for advice and used to monitor the healing process. The contact details of Burns Units throughout Australia can be found online here: http://anzba.org,au/resources/burn-units/
How do I keep my staff up to date with current burns guidelines?
There are a number of ways to get the importance of this message through to staff if you are responsible for providing care to the elderly in a residential or home care setting.
- Use a good e-learning platform that tracks your staff training and completion rate
- Ensure that staff have access to the ANZBA Referral Criteria found at http://anzba.org.au/care/referral-criteria/
- Provide awareness that any burn in the elderly can lead to serious complications and that all burns should be treated seriously
- Provide staff with access to the ANZBA fact sheet at http://anzba.org.au/assets/Factsheet-First-aid2.pdf